PHASE 3 UPDATE FROM PAPATOETOE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL – Friday 25th February 2022

COVID-19 Update : Phase 3

Kia ora koutou,

New Zealand’s COVID-19 response continues amid much larger numbers of daily cases.

You may well have seen the headlines in the media about the numbers of cases being seen in schools. Please don’t be alarmed by this. It is only natural as cases in our community increase, they will appear in our school. 

We have really good systems in place to respond to this and to keep any spread of the virus – should it appear – to a minimum. 

What are we doing?

• Remaining open 
• Maintaining health and safety measures
• Continuing to update community of situations change within the school setting

What does Phase 3 mean?

• Only confirmed cases and their household contacts who need to self-isolate. 
• Everyone else, including those who may have had close contact with the case but aren’t in the household, must continue to monitor really closely for any symptoms of COVID-19.
• Students can continue to come to school if they are symptom free and there is no positive case within the household
• People who are currently self-isolating as close contacts and are not household contacts can stop isolating and return to school from Friday 25 February if they are asymptomatic.

What you need to do:

• Continue to keep a really close watch of your whānau for anyone with symptoms. 
• If unwell, please stay at home and get advice about getting a COVID-19 test. 
• Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are now being used to diagnose COVID-19 as well as PCR tests. This means that you will get an almost immediate test result back if a RAT is used.
• If anyone in your family is confirmed as having COVID-19, you will be asked to notify your close contacts yourself. Please get in touch with us as soon as you can if your child has tested positive for COVID-19.
• Maintain safety measures at home: Wash your hands, get lots of fresh air, cover any coughs and sneezes, clean surfaces regularly
• Wear a mask when you are out and about. 

There is information online to help your family prepare to isolate if you need to. 

If you have any concerns about sending your child to school, please do get in touch.  We are here to help.

Aku mihi,

Donna Young
Acting Principal