As you know, unless exempted, school staff are now required to wear a medical-grade mask when working in public-facing roles.
Masks are just one of the measures we can use for reducing the spread of the virus. Other measures include:
- being fully vaccinated and having a booster
- staying home and seeking medical advice if you are unwell
- keeping your distance from other people and opening windows for ventilation
- cleaning your hands often and sneezing and coughing into your elbow
- keeping track of where you’ve been with the NZ COVID Tracer app.
The Ministry of Health have advised that there is no specific time limit for how long a single-use mask is effective, and you do not necessarily need to change your mask regularly throughout the day. School staff are able to wear a medical mask until it is damp, soiled or damaged.
The important thing is for the wearer to make sure the mask has maintained its integrity. If you can see it is soiled or torn, it needs to be replaced.
Acceptable types of medical-grade masks
The terms ‘medical’, ‘surgical’, and ‘procedural’ are often used interchangeably to refer to these masks. When looking for a medical mask in New Zealand, the manufacturer's box normally states that it is a medical mask and meets a standard.
For example:
- Meets ASTM F2100-11 standard level 1: translated this means it meets the American Standard – American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard F2100-11). A level 1 mask is recommended but you could wear level 1, level 2 or level 3.
- Medical mask meets BS EN 14683 type I: translated this means it meets British Standard (BS) or European Standard (EN) 14683. A type I or type II is recommended but you could wear a type IIR.
Some reusable masks with filters do meet the medical-grade standard. Again, the packaging will indicate if it is a medical mask. These can be used, so long as the manufacturer's instructions for use are followed.
Safely disposing of masks
In addition to the information in our bulletin on Monday, a number of you have suggested cutting off the ear loops with a pair of scissors prior to disposal. (Without ear loops, there are fewer chances of the mask entangling wildlife in the event it ends up in the environment).
Changes to mask requirements on school transport
Students in Year 4 and over:
The COVID-19 Public Health Response (Protection Framework and Other Matters) Amendment Order 2022 has been published.
From 11.59pm 3 February 2022, all students aged eight years and over or are students in Year 4 and above legally must wear a mask on school transport (both Ministry and regional council-operated) and public transport services in the Red and Orange traffic light settings unless they have an exemption.
This includes SESTA, daily, technology, direct-resourced, and Māori-medium school transport services. It also includes charter buses hired by schools to transport students and staff.
The Government is also now requiring that a face covering must be an actual mask. This means that face coverings such as scarves, bandannas or t-shirts pulled up over the face are no longer allowed. As above, it is recommended that masks be a medical-grade mask.
Please note, while the school transport drivers are not required to enforce the wearing of masks, they will report any non-compliance to your school’s bus controller (noting that some students may be exempt from mask requirements for health and safety reasons). Schools are expected to manage any non-compliance just as they currently manage behavioural issues of school transport users.
Students in Year 3 and below:
While we encourage all students to wear masks on school transport, students in Year 3 and below are not required to wear masks.
This includes SESTA, daily, technology, direct-resourced, and Māori-medium school transport services. It also includes charter buses hired by schools to transport students and staff.
Update on mask exemptions
Where parents have concerns about mask wearing, they should be encouraged to discuss this in the first instance with their school.
Where someone meets the criteria for exemption, it is important that they are supported.
It’s not always obvious why someone can’t wear a mask. For example, they may be victims of crime or experience mental health conditions. If not dealt with in a sensitive and respectful manner questioning someone’s eligibility for a mask exemption could unintentionally victimise people further.
While a small number of national organisations have previously administered exemption cards developed by the Ministry of Health, this will not be necessary. The Disabled Persons Assembly NZ (DPA), Deaf Aotearoa, and Blind Citizens NZ encourage parents, as we do, to discuss their circumstances with you or their teacher in the first instance.
For those who have an exemption card, it is their choice whether they wear it publicly or not. No one should be required to wear an exemption card if they have one.
We are continuing to work with the Ministry of Health to identify possible improvements to the mask exemption process.
You will know that there are many layers of protection in schools, including people who are unwell staying away, increasing rates of vaccination across the population including mandated vaccinations for staff and volunteers, good ventilation, other students and staff wearing masks, good cough and sneeze etiquette and more.
A reminder that the Unite Against COVID-19 website has several resources to support mask use:
Mask use when playing sport or recreational activities
You are not required to wear a mask when you are playing sport or engaging in recreational activities outdoors.
For more information, see Sport New Zealand’s FAQs
The requirements for masks depend on the traffic light setting:
- at Red, masks are mandatory in retail settings and public facilities, but not swimming pools. Face coverings are recommended whenever you leave the house, including before and after playing sport or engaging in a recreational activity
- at Orange, face coverings are mandatory in retail settings and public facilities, but not swimming pools. Face coverings are encouraged at all other locations
- at Green, masks are encouraged whenever you are indoors.
Those in a coaching role are encouraged to wear a mask, particularly if you are indoors.
