11th March 2022
Kia ora koutou,
On the 6th of March you were informed we had our first confirmed COVID-19 cases in our school community and two classes received email confirmation a child in their classroom was a confirmed case. If a child tests positive I will email the parents of that class to inform them of a positive case, not a child’s name. This is to allow parents to make their own decisions around safety. We are continuing at school as we have since day 1 of this year.
A number of students and families have been isolating for 10 days either as a case or household contacts. You’ll be aware that at 11:59pm on Thursday the required period of isolation for positive cases of COVID-19 and their household contacts is being reduced from 10 days to seven days.
All of the details are below from the Ministry of Health and Education. Please make sure you follow the guidelines below before returning to school.
Please let us know the date of any positive test of student or household, so we can record day zero to manage safe returns students to school.
Kind regards
Terry
___________________________________________________________________
The health and wellbeing of our children, staff and community is a top priority so we are closely following the Ministry of Health guidance for schools.
At Phase 3 of the Omicron response, only cases and household contacts are legally required to isolate.
What you need to do
- You and your whānau should be very vigilant about monitoring for symptoms.
- If any symptoms develop, get tested immediately.
- Wear a face mask when out and about.
- Wash hands often with soap for 20 seconds and dry your hands completely.
- Wash your hands if you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your face, and cough or sneeze into your elbow or cover your mouth with tissues.
- If you and your whānau haven’t been vaccinated or boosted, please do so as soon as possible. You can book on-line at bookmyvaccine.nz or by calling 0800 28 29 26. It’s free.
Symptoms of COVID-19
- A new or worsening cough.
- Sneezing and runny nose.
- A fever.
- Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste.
- Sore throat.
- Shortness of breath.
Less common symptoms include diarrhoea, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, malaise, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain, or confusion/irritability.
For more information, go to the Unite Against COVID-19 website.
If you or someone in your whānau tests positive for Covid 19
- If you or your child receive a positive test result the household must isolate for seven days.
- Household contacts must test on Day 3 and Day 7.
Returning to school after COVID-19
- Students who test positive for COVID-19 are not required to self-isolate past seven days, but they shouldn’t return to school if they are still feeling unwell.
- Many children will have long lasting runny nose and cough after viral infections. If it is over 10 days since the onset of the COVID infection and they are no longer feeling unwell, they are unlikely to be transmitting any active COVID infection and can return to school. However, if they are continuing to feel unwell or their symptoms are worsening after 10 days then GP review is recommended.
What we’re doing
- We are staying open.
- We are using public health measures to reduce the risk in our settings, including masks, physical distancing and ventilation.
- We have appropriate cleaning procedures in place.
Print or Save this Post