COVID 19 UPDATE
Managing Covid through winter
We have had a spike in COVID-19 numbers and other illnesses at school since the start of winter. We are trying our very best to manage this as well as we can to keep our tamariki and staff as safe as possible, and ensure the least amount of disruption to the running of the school.
There has been some confusion over isolation rules as we are seeing whole families come down with the virus in close succession and also because we are now seeing repeat cases as individuals have passed the 90 day marker (3 months) since they were first infected with COVID-19.
Please contact the school to let us know if you or your child has COVID-19 so that we are able to accurately record the correct isolation information and offer you whatever support we can.
According to the latest Ministry of Health guidelines:
If you have Covid-19
You must self-isolate for at least 7 days while you recover. Day 0 is the day your covid symptoms started or when you tested positive, whichever came first.
Your Household Contacts will also need to isolate for 7 days, unless they have had COVID-19 in the last 3 months.
If you are a household contact and have not had COVID-19 in the past 3 months
Whether you are fully vaccinated or not, you will need to:
isolate for 7 days, starting from the day the person with COVID-19 tests positive or their symptoms started — whichever came first, and
take a COVID-19 test on Day 3, and on Day 7 of your isolation period, or sooner if you develop symptoms. If you test positive, follow the guidance for people with COVID-19. If you develop symptoms but test negative, do another rapid antigen test (RAT) 48 hours later.
You do not need to isolate with your household if you have had COVID-19 within the last 3 months
When you can leave self-isolation
Your isolation ends at the same time as the first person in your household who had COVID-19 if:
your Day 7 test was negative (isolation ends the next day)
you have no new or worsening symptoms.
If more than 1 person in your household tests positive after the first person, you do not need to restart your isolation period. You will need to self isolate again if it has been more than 10 days since
Only restart your 7-day isolation period if you test positive on Day 3 or Day 7, or develop new or worsening symptoms OR it has been 10 days since you isolated.
Handy links to Covid-19 Information
If you have Covid-19
https://covid19.govt.nz/isolation-and-care/if-you-have-covid-19/
Information about catching Covid-19 again:
You can work out your isolation dates using the tool on the COVID-19 Health Hub:
Create your household isolation timeline | covid19.health.nz
For further guidance and advice, visit the COVID-19 Health Hub:
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