Coronavirus
coVid-19
Thursday 12th March 2020
Kia ora
You may have seen that the World Health Organisation has now declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. As noted by the Minister of Health, this doesn’t change what New Zealand is doing to respond to coronavirus.
The Ministry of Health has been working through its pandemic plan since January. You will also know the Government has already implemented a range of measures to minimise the impacts to New Zealand. This includes border restrictions, a requirement to self-isolate on arrival in New Zealand from China, Iran, Italy and the Republic of Korea and immediate and detailed contact tracing of any confirmed cases. It is important to note those four countries account for more than 90% of cases globally and China and the Republic of Korea have significantly declining numbers of new cases.
We have 5 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand and it is pleasing to know they are all doing well and are at home. Their children, four students at Auckland schools, continue to be well and show no symptoms. While we expect that more cases will arise, the Ministry of Health says that with continued vigilance the chance of widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low in New Zealand. We all have a role to play in this.
For our school, our pandemic plan is also ready to be implemented if needed. In the mean time we will continue to focus on good hygiene practices. Hand washing and good cough etiquette are very important tools in preventing the spread of illness including colds, flu and COVID-19.
With that, many of our students have watched the video clip from Nanogirl that helps children to better understand the virus - YouTube clip - Nanogirl
You may have also seen the Prime Minister sat down with Dr Michelle Dickinson (aka Nanogirl) and the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Juliet Gerrard, to talk about coronavirus: One other action we can all take is to be vigilant about our own health and the health of our children. Staff will be encouraged to stay away from school if they are showing signs of illness such as coughs and colds. I ask that you please do the same with your children. Colds and flus are common in schools and by staying away, seeking medical attention and practicing good hygiene, we can all keep any spread of illness to a minimum.
Ngā mihi
Andrea Stewart
Kia ora
You may have seen that the World Health Organisation has now declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. As noted by the Minister of Health, this doesn’t change what New Zealand is doing to respond to coronavirus.
The Ministry of Health has been working through its pandemic plan since January. You will also know the Government has already implemented a range of measures to minimise the impacts to New Zealand. This includes border restrictions, a requirement to self-isolate on arrival in New Zealand from China, Iran, Italy and the Republic of Korea and immediate and detailed contact tracing of any confirmed cases. It is important to note those four countries account for more than 90% of cases globally and China and the Republic of Korea have significantly declining numbers of new cases.
We have 5 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand and it is pleasing to know they are all doing well and are at home. Their children, four students at Auckland schools, continue to be well and show no symptoms. While we expect that more cases will arise, the Ministry of Health says that with continued vigilance the chance of widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low in New Zealand. We all have a role to play in this.
For our school, our pandemic plan is also ready to be implemented if needed. In the mean time we will continue to focus on good hygiene practices. Hand washing and good cough etiquette are very important tools in preventing the spread of illness including colds, flu and COVID-19.
With that, many of our students have watched the video clip from Nanogirl that helps children to better understand the virus - YouTube clip - Nanogirl
You may have also seen the Prime Minister sat down with Dr Michelle Dickinson (aka Nanogirl) and the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Juliet Gerrard, to talk about coronavirus: One other action we can all take is to be vigilant about our own health and the health of our children. Staff will be encouraged to stay away from school if they are showing signs of illness such as coughs and colds. I ask that you please do the same with your children. Colds and flus are common in schools and by staying away, seeking medical attention and practicing good hygiene, we can all keep any spread of illness to a minimum.
Ngā mihi
Andrea Stewart
Sunday 1st March 2020
COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). Update for Spreydon Whānau.
Kia ora, during the weekend there has been much media coverage on this topic.
You may be wondering what Spreydon School is doing to plan and prepare for an event like this.
The Ministries of Education and Health have been providing excellent communications to school principals on this issue for the last few weeks.
If you have checked our Pandemic Planning Policy on-line you will have seen that school specific content is no longer there. Instead we will follow the daily updates from Ministry of Education and Health.
Here is the current advice to us all:
Everybody should follow the following basic principles to reduce the risk of getting an acute respiratory infection or passing it on to others:
-regularly washing hands (for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap and dry thoroughly).
-covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze.
-staying home if you are sick.
-avoiding close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
-if you feel unwell you should avoid public gatherings and events.
Here are two links for those who wish to read more.
Ministry of Education
[http://www.education.govt.nz/…/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/…](http://www.education.govt.nz/school/health-safety-and-wellbeing/student-and-staff-health/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/?fbclid=IwAR1bE5cDxl-lL1L1Q088ecjmSGpRVkL2bNutrSeVFco0aIWLmLYIVbeKHFw#preventing)
Ministry of Health
[https://www.health.govt.nz/…/dis…/covid-19-novel-coronavirus](https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR1YL01NWDNMuC9x0_qPpRt2xvrCm9_4QR8BVuvKVa2tMiYYj2bst-ZIL-8)
Ngā mihi
Andrea
COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). Update for Spreydon Whānau.
Kia ora, during the weekend there has been much media coverage on this topic.
You may be wondering what Spreydon School is doing to plan and prepare for an event like this.
The Ministries of Education and Health have been providing excellent communications to school principals on this issue for the last few weeks.
If you have checked our Pandemic Planning Policy on-line you will have seen that school specific content is no longer there. Instead we will follow the daily updates from Ministry of Education and Health.
Here is the current advice to us all:
Everybody should follow the following basic principles to reduce the risk of getting an acute respiratory infection or passing it on to others:
-regularly washing hands (for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap and dry thoroughly).
-covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze.
-staying home if you are sick.
-avoiding close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
-if you feel unwell you should avoid public gatherings and events.
Here are two links for those who wish to read more.
Ministry of Education
[http://www.education.govt.nz/…/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/…](http://www.education.govt.nz/school/health-safety-and-wellbeing/student-and-staff-health/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/?fbclid=IwAR1bE5cDxl-lL1L1Q088ecjmSGpRVkL2bNutrSeVFco0aIWLmLYIVbeKHFw#preventing)
Ministry of Health
[https://www.health.govt.nz/…/dis…/covid-19-novel-coronavirus](https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR1YL01NWDNMuC9x0_qPpRt2xvrCm9_4QR8BVuvKVa2tMiYYj2bst-ZIL-8)
Ngā mihi
Andrea