Please read below as well as the attached letter that was sent out to all our parents via email.

We’d like to promote a healthy start to 2020 and as you may have seen in the media the situation is rapidly evolving internationally concerning the Novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV.

This is a new virus and its specific nature is currently unclear, however it appears that you can have the virus at an early stage and not be showing any symptoms. The incubation period is currently considered to be up to 14 days.

Therefore if your child has recently had a holiday in China or you are hosting an international student from China, we request they stay home for 14 days from their arrival to New Zealand to ensure they don’t develop signs or symptoms of the virus and potentially spread to others.

Here is an Important message from the New Zealand Ministry of Health

If you get sick within a month of arriving in New Zealand, please seek medical advice as soon as you can.

Telephone the free Healthline on 0800 611 116 or contact a doctor.

It is important to tell them that you have been outside New Zealand recently.

Tell the health professional if you have a temperature of 38°C or higher and one or more of the following symptoms:

· ongoing coughing

· difficulty breathing

· ongoing diarrhoea

· ongoing vomiting

· skin rash

· bruising or bleeding without injury

· looking obviously unwell

· confusion

There are currently no vaccines to protect against the virus however the basic principles to reduce the general risk of acute respiratory infection are:

• avoid close contact with people suffering acute respiratory infections
• wash hands frequently, especially after contact with ill people or their environment
• avoid close contact with sick farm animals or wild animals
• people with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette:
  • maintain distance
  • cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing
  • wash hands.