Kia ora koutou katoa
As had been anticipated, the Ministry of Health’s Director-General this afternoon announced a possible case of COVID-19 in a school (Logan Park High School, Dunedin). The student, whose father was today confirmed as having tested positive, is currently in self-isolation and awaiting the results of a test. The test results are expected tomorrow.
If it is negative, the student will remain in self-isolation as they have been in close contact with their father.
If it is positive the plan will kick in. Health authorities will ask the school to close for 48 hours while close contacts are traced and put in self isolation for 14 days. Casual contacts will also be provided with information so that they know any symptoms to monitor for and where to go to if they become unwell. They do not need to self-isolate.
Close contacts of the father will also be in self-isolation.
Health authorities have been very clear in their advice – while we wait for the result, there is no reason that children should not be going to school.
As you have been doing, please continue to focus on prevention of spread including through:
- Washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and drying thoroughly – before and after eating as well as after attending the toilet
- Covering coughs and sneezes with clean tissues or with an elbow
- Putting used tissues in the bin
Staff and students need to stay home if they are unwell in any way.
Physical Distancing
Remember that personal hygiene, and reducing unnecessary physical contact (eg. hugs, handshakes, hongi) are still the most important things to do to stop the spread of any virus.
Please note that we are deliberately using the term “physical distancing” rather than “social distancing”. Maintaining social connection is as important as ever to people’s wellbeing during this time, if not more so.
Reminder – Who needs to self-isolate?
The Government announcement at the weekend requires anyone who has arrived from overseas after 1am on Monday 16 March to self-isolate for 14 days, and to register with Healthline (0800 358 5453). The exception is people arriving from specified Pacific countries (“Category 2” countries as listed here), who do not need to self-isolate if they are not unwell.
People who arrived from overseas before 1am on Monday 16 March are not required to self-isolate, unless they have travelled from South Korea or Iran. Travellers from those countries need to self-isolate for 14 days from the date of their departure and register with Healthline.
People living in the same house as travellers that are required to self-isolate, need to minimise contact with them (avoiding being closer than 2 metres apart for more than 15 minutes). However, they are not required to self-isolate themselves.
Encouraging student attendance
We know that some parents have concerns about their children attending school at the moment, some of which may be due to what they are seeing in the media about other countries.
There’s a simple rule here – if students are unwell (whether or not their illness relates to COVID-19) they should stay at home. Students who are not unwell should continue to attend school.
It may be worth reminding your parent community that while we are seeing large-scale school shutdowns elsewhere in the world, in New Zealand we still have no community transmission. Consequently any decisions about school closures will be made on a case by case basis. In the meantime, unless students are unwell themselves, then parents should keep sending them to schools and early learning centres as these environments continue to be safe and the best place for them to continue their learning.