Please see below for an update on "Phase 3". Jess and I will be attending a MOE zoom tomorrow and will update any relevant information after that.

Kia Ora Whānau

You may have seen or heard the announcement about New Zealand moving to Phase 3 tonight. This does come with some significant changes, mainly around "close contacts", testing, and isolating. I have taken much of the following information directly from: https://covid19.govt.nz/prepare-and-stay-safe/about-covid-19/our-response-to-omicron/#about-phase-3 and would urge you to visit that site if you have any questions.

Importantly this means that:

Any student or staff member currently classified as a close contact can return to school as long as they:

• Are not a "household contact", that is, living with someone who has tested positive for COVID

• Do not have symptoms of COVID

• Are not within the 10 days isolation period after testing positive for COVID.

We have several ways of supporting distance learning.  Your child should have some "boomerang work" that can be continued either at school or at home, and we have hard pack learning material available - just let your child's teacher know if you would like one.

About Phase 3

Getting tested for COVID-19:

You should only get a COVID-19 test if:

• you have symptoms, or

• you are a Household Contact

At Phase 3, PCR tests will be used for people who need it most, and rapid antigen tests (RATs) will become more widely available. When you go for a test, the testing centre will let you know which test — RATs or PCR is best for you. Positive RAT results do not need to be confirmed with a PCR test unless advised.

Critical workers who are Household Contacts will still be able to use RATs tests to return to work, if they are fully vaccinated and do not have any COVID-19 symptoms. They will need to return a negative RAT before they go to work.

If you test positive for COVID-19:

If you test positive for COVID-19, you will need to isolate for 10 days. You will be sent a link to complete an online form, which will help contact tracers identify locations you have visited and people you have come into close contact with.

If you do not have access to a mobile, you will be contacted by a contact tracer, or a primary care, Māori, iwi or Pacific health provider.

You can leave isolation after 10 days — you do not need a negative test.

Close Contacts

At Phase 3, Close Contacts no longer need to isolate — unless they have symptoms. If you get a notification from your workplace, school or through the NZ COVID Tracer app that you are a Close Contact, you should monitor your symptoms for 10 days.

If you live with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you are considered a Household Contact and will need to isolate for 10 days. You must get a test on Day 3 and Day 10 of your isolation. If you develop symptoms you should get a test sooner. If you are a Household Contact and you test positive, you will need to isolate for 10 days.

From Friday 25 February, if you are currently a Close Contact and are part way through your isolation, you do not need to complete your 10 days isolation and you will be permitted to leave. You do not need to get a negative COVID-19 test.

Support for people in self-isolation

If you are self-isolating at home, you can access help if you need essential supplies like food or medicine. If your symptoms worsen, call

your doctor or Healthline for advice. They will tell you what you need to do next.

Vulnerable people will have access to clinical care to help them self-isolate safely.

Get support if you have COVID-19 or are self isolating

Financial support if you are self-isolating

It is still really important that you let us know if your child tests positive and what their return date for school is.  Most importantly, look after each other and let us know if you need support.

Ngā mihi aroha

Sharon