Ministry of Education Update to Schools:
Help us to keep you and everyone else safe
The Prime Minister has announced the first case of COVID-19 (Friday 28 March) has been confirmed in New Zealand (see the full media release at the end of this article). The Ministry of Health has noted that although we have our first case of COVID-19, the chances of community outbreak remain low.
This case was identified because the person affected and their family did the right thing and got in touch with health authorities.
This is a good wake up call. New Zealand has been free of the virus to date, but we knew that would not last. For now this doesn’t affect what you already are doing and the plans you and health authorities have in place. Continue to reinforce messages about hygiene practices. Practising good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene is the best defence:
- wash your hands often with soap and water before and after eating as well as after attending the toilet
- cover coughs and sneezes with clean tissues or your elbow
- put used tissues in the bin.
Encourage staff and students to stay home if unwell.
We are still focused on keeping it out, and now stomping it out through track, trace and contain. It’s important we all continue to be alert but not alarmed.
Updated information from Health
As announced this week by the Ministry of Health, there are now two categories for travellers arriving in New Zealand:
- Category 1 – People who have travelled from or transited through countries in category one in the last 14 days are required to self-isolate for 14 days and contact Healthline after they have left the countries. Mainland China and Iran are the two countries included in this category (with Iran added to this category on Friday 28 February).
- Category 2 – People who have travelled from or via countries lists in category two who develop symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath should seek medical advice by first phoning Healthline’s dedicated COVID-19 number 0800 358 5453 or contacting their GP including phoning ahead of their visit.
As at Friday 28 February countries in this category are Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand.
Anyone who has travelled from or transited through any of the countries listed in both categories with clinically compatible symptoms should be considered a suspect of COVID-19 case and testing performed.
What you need to do
For you, this new information from Health should not change significantly how you are currently supporting the health and wellbeing in your school or early learning service community.
For any children, students or staff who have recently returned from Iran or China, they will need to go into a stay away period of 14 days (from when they left Iran or China).
Please continue to encourage anyone who is not well, to not attend your school or early learning service and to seek medical advice.
If you are concerned that someone is showing symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath, encourage them to first ring Healthline (0800 358 5453) or contact their GP by phoning ahead of their visit to explain symptoms and travel history.
If you have any concerns about the possibility that someone does have a communicable disease, your first step is to contact your local district health board for advice and support. Contact details for specific DHBs can be found here. If the individual with a suspected case is still in your school or service, isolate them from others, until you have received medical advice.
We encourage you to keep updated about the status of COVID-19 on the Ministry of Health website.
Media Release
Single case of COVID-19 confirmed in New Zealand
Date: 28 February 2020
The first case of COVID-19 is now confirmed in New Zealand in a person in their 60s recently returned from Iran.
The results of the test were formally reported to the Ministry at around 4.15pm this afternoon.
Although we have our first case of COVID-19, the chances of community outbreak remain low.
The Ministry of Health is confident the public risk from this new infection is being well managed because of the public messaging, awareness of COVID-19 disease and our public health response to managing cases and contacts.
The patient confirmed with COVID-19 is being treated in Auckland City Hospital. They are in an improving condition in isolation, in a negative pressure room to prevent any spread of the disease.
Household contacts are in isolation as a precautionary measure. Public health officials have begun tracing the patient’s other close contacts to ensure appropriate protection measures are in place, including on the flight involved which originated in Tehran and came via Bali.
Anyone who was on the final leg of the flight, Emirates EK450 arriving Auckland on Wednesday 26 February, and is concerned should contact the COVID-19 Healthline number 0800 358 5453.
The person arrived in Auckland on 26 February and travelled home in a private car. Their family became concerned about their condition and called Healthline.
They were advised to seek medical attention and attended Auckland City Hospital emergency department that same day. All were wearing masks on arrival. As a result of the individual’s symptoms and travel history they were admitted and tested.
Two earlier tests were negative for COVID-19. A further test today using a more specific sample proved positive.
Contact tracing has started and close contacts are in isolation. Other close family contacts will also now be tested for COVID-19.
Hospital staff involved in the patient’s care are using with appropriate personal protection. District health boards have been preparing for managing cases of COVID-19.
The overall situation regarding COVID-19 internationally remains rapidly evolving with a high degree of uncertainty and we continue to recommend a precautionary approach.
New Zealand is the 48th country to have a confirmed case of COVID-19.
It is critically important that we both protect New Zealanders from the virus and play our part in the global effort to contain it.
The Ministry of Health’s assessment remains that there is a high likelihood of sporadic cases.
Keeping individuals, families and our communities safe and healthy in the current global environment requires a team effort and that’s what we’re seeing across New Zealand.
Healthline’s dedicated COVID-19 number, 0800 358 5453, is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
OTHER BACKGROUND
Border restrictions remain in place for anyone who has been to or through mainland China or Iran in the past 14 days.
The Ministry’s expert advisory group yesterday revised the advice to health professionals about identifying possible cases of COVID-19 by adding Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand as countries and territories of concern when assessing patients.
Anyone arriving in NZ who has visited those countries in the previous 14 days is advised if they develop symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath they should seek medical advice by first phoning Healthline’s dedicated COVID-19 number 0800 358 5453 or phone ahead to their GP before their visit.