Kia ora,
We have just heard that two of our students who were already self-isolating with their families have tested positive for Covid-19. Please note that they tested positive after multiple days of self isolating where they originally tested negative. Therefore we do not believe they were infectious while they were attending school.
It is understandable that this will make you feel a bit anxious, but our main aim is for Matapu School to remain open for learning. All of our teachers are healthy and are not symptomatic. We need you to continue to monitor the health of your child/ren.
If they have any of the symptoms listed below, please do not send them to school.
Symptoms of COVID-19
Less common symptoms include diarrhoea, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, malaise, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain, or confusion/irritability.
For more information, go to the Unite Against COVID-19 website.
I appreciate that we have some students and family members who have high health needs and some of you may choose for your children to learn from home from Tuesday 15th March onwards. This is not a problem, all we ask is that you please contact your child’s teacher by email to inform them. We will then either send home a paper based pack or set them up for online learning (dependent on their year level and classroom). Please find our teachers’ email addresses listed below
If you or someone in your whānau tests positive for Covid 19
Please inform us ASAP.
If you or your child receive a positive test result your household must isolate for seven days.
Household contacts must test on Day 3 and Day 7.
Day 0 is the day symptoms began or the day the test was taken (whichever came first). Cases will isolate for a full seven days and are free to return to normal activities on Day 8, if they are not symptomatic.
Returning to school after COVID-19
· Students who test positive for COVID-19 are not required to self-isolate past seven days, but they shouldn’t return to school if they are still feeling unwell.
· Many children will have a long lasting runny nose and cough after viral infections. If it is over 10 days since the onset of the COVID infection and they are no longer feeling unwell, they are unlikely to be transmitting any active COVID infection and can return to school. However, if they are continuing to feel unwell or their symptoms are worsening after 10 days then GP review is recommended.
What we’re doing
We are staying open.
We are using public health measures to reduce the risk in our settings, including masks, physical distancing and ventilation.
Hand sanitising upon entry and exit from the classroom.
We have appropriate cleaning procedures in place.
Ngå mihi nui
James Willson
