19/3/2020 #2

Dear parents, 

Thank you to those families who have responded to the request to voluntarily self-isolate because of travel in the past 14 days. We have had 100% support with this. 

A number of families are in the situation where a parent has recently returned from travel but their child hasn’t travelled. They are asking us ‘should the child also self-isolate’.

The Ministry of Health has the following advice on this:
If you have recently returned from travel and are in a home where the others who live with you haven’t travelled or been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you should minimise close contact with them by avoiding situations where you have face-to-face contact closer than 2 metres for more than 15 minutes.
You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, pillows or other items with other people in your home. After using these items, you should wash them thoroughly with soap and water, place them in the dishwasher for cleaning or wash them in your washing machine.
The other household residents do not need to self-isolate provided these precautions are followed.
My interpretation of this advice is: 
If a member of your home has recently returned from travel and you have not followed the self-isolation advice above, you should take the precautionary measure to protect those around you – your family, friends, colleagues – from contracting COVID-19 by also self-isolating your child for 14 days.
Our teachers will continue to share work with those students who are self-isolating and we also have a team working in the background to prepare us for ‘distance learning’ in the future if this should be required.
I’d like to reiterate that the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 is:

• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or by covering your mouth and nose with tissues.
• Put used tissues in the bin or a bag immediately.
• Wash your hands with soap and water often (for at least 20 seconds).
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
• Avoid personal contact, such as kissing, sharing cups or food with sick people.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs.
• Stay home if you feel unwell.

• ​Call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 if you have any symptoms and have been to any countries or territories of concern or have been in close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19.

Nga mihi

Melinda Bennett
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