COVID-19: Updated Information
The Ministry of Education continues to keep us informed of the latest developments with COVID-19 as it relates to our school community. We wanted to share this with you.
Confirmed, probable or possible cases linked to your school
As anticipated, new cases of COVID-19 have been identified as New Zealanders return home.Testing for possible cases and those presenting with symptoms continues, with more than 340,000 people tested in New Zealand as at 22 June.
If there is a confirmed case in your school
While unlikely at Alert Level 1, if there was a confirmed or probable case linked with your school or early learning service, you would be advised of that by the Medical Officer of Health or your local public health authority (or local Ministry of Education staff working in conjunction with local health authorities).
Our regional staff will work with you and local health authorities to agree a plan. That will happen quickly and support will be provided to assist you to communicate with and support your community and staff.
If you become aware of a case associated with your school or early learning service and haven’t received notification from health authorities, please contact your local public health unit or your local Ministry of Education contact for information and support:
Local health authorities through the Medical Officer of Health will make the decision about whether a school or service needs to close for a period of time, and will determine who is required to undertake self-isolation.
Who needs to stay away?
Unless directed by the Medical Officer of Health, the only people who need to stay away are those who are:
- Unwell
- Self-isolating (at the request of health authorities)
- Waiting for COVID test results
Everyone else should be at school.
Anyone who is a contact of a ‘close contact’ is not required to self-isolate. Close contacts are self-isolating as a precaution only, and will monitor for symptoms.
For example - a staff member who had close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19 will be asked by health authorities to self-isolate for 14 days from when they last had contact with the confirmed case. Their family members and other close contacts of the staff member are not required to self-isolate unless they have also had close contact with a confirmed case.