Covid - 19 Update
Monday 23 August
Kia ora koutou,
I think we had all anticipated a further extension of Alert Level 4, and the Prime Minister has confirmed this. The Alert Level will be reviewed on Friday afternoon, but for now Alert Level 4 will remain in place until 11:59pm Friday 27 August.
And so our distance learning programme will continue. We had around 98% of our students/whanau engaged with their teachers and classmates today and this will continue each day this week.
There is a lot we can all do to protect our whānau and community from COVID-19 including:
· Everyone must continue to stay home in their bubble
· Do not mix with other household bubbles – if they have COVID-19, it can easily spread to your household, and every other household they and you are connecting with
· Wash your hands regularly, especially when you have been out in public
· Stay home if you are feeling unwell and seek advice about whether you need to get a test
· Wear a face covering when out and about, and you MUST wear a face covering in any businesses or services which are open at Alert Level 4 (unless you have specifically been exempted from doing so, which includes anyone aged under 12)
· Keep a two-metre distance from people outside your household bubble
· Check in using the NZ COVID Tracer App wherever you go or keep a manual record (a reminder the App only stores information on your own phone – no one else will know who it is that checked in, or when)
We can also make sure we are passing on good information. There is a very helpful article by Dr Siouxsie Wiles and Toby Morris in The Spinoff regarding misinformation and disinformation.
Their red flags for how to spot bad information are particularly well-summarised. Bad information will:
· downplay COVID-19 and the pandemic
· focus on survival rate
· ignore long COVID
· emphasise individual freedom
· try to sell you something
· push simple cures/treatments
· make you feel fearful or angry.
“Good information put out to help you make an informed choice won’t make you feel scared or angry. It’ll make you feel empowered.”
Finally, we know some families in our community may be finding it difficult to access food and essential items such as medicine. This information about how to access food or essential items summarises the support that is available, including financial help to buy food.
I will be sending out a newsletter on Wednesday as per usual.
Please do take care and let us know how we can best support you and your whānau.
Kia kaha!
David Macmillan