There is increasing pressure from parents and some members of the health profession to close. At Paddington Public School,a healthcare-worker father stood in front of the gates asking parents to take their children home.

But NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said if schools were closed now they would have to remain shut for months,and re-opening them after a prolonged closure could re-infect many within the community.

Other countries,such as Singapore,have successfully controlled outbreaks without closing schools."School closures may still be considered late in the outbreak[ahead of] a peak in infection rates,for a shorter period of time,"she said in a statement.

Most private schools have heeded her advice."MLC School will be following the advice of experts and will remain open,"said principal Lisa Moloney in a letter to parents. Some are still testing systems;all students at St Andrew's Cathedral School will work from home on Wednesday.

Head of St Catherine's Anglican school in Waverley Julie Townsend told parents in a letter:"It is highly likely that the government will make the decision to close schools in the coming weeks."

Many schools,especially public schools,are experiencing shortages of soap,toilet paper and paper towels,and have struggled to find hand sanitiser. Many do not have soap dispensers,or have limited numbers of basins to cater for hundreds of students.

One principal said he had to"pull the principal card"to convince the local chemist to sell their last bottles of soap,and only had a week's worth of toilet paper left.

"What we don't have,massively,across all schools,is a level of cleaning,"said another principal."Most schools don't have hand dryers,or paper towels. If we get kids to wash their hands,we'll run out of soap."

Students are following directions,he said,but struggling with other forms of social distancing."I'm looking out the window and seeing two girls holding hands,and one boy with his arm around another,"the principal said.

NSW Secondary Principals'Council acting president Craig Petersen said there was"enormous inconsistency"in the facilities across schools,such as whether they have soap dispensers."It's becoming increasingly had to procure hand sanitiser,paper towels,and even toilet rolls,"he said.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said schools should contact the department immediately if they were having trouble accessing supplies.

Some teachers are also becoming increasingly concerned about their own health."They are going to go home to their households where there are older people,it's pretty dangerous territory,"said one principal.

But others are concerned about the welfare issues students would face if schools were closed,and the equity gap when private school students had sophisticated online learning systems while others counted their mobile phone as their only device.

"Some are fed at school,they access health services through school,"said the deputy principal."I'm worried about an increase in abuse,neglect and domestic violence in some homes if schools close."