Dear Parents, Caregivers and Whanau
Update re: Coronavirus situation / 27 January 2020
Our school is closely monitoring information being provided by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) in regard to the Coronavirus. Students arriving from overseas are being interviewed by our International College staff and if necessary, will receive medical checks on arrival. We are also asking that parents or agents of international students due to travel to New Zealand in the coming days be checked medically and if they have any flu-like symptoms or a raised temperature to delay their travel to New Zealand. Where students display with a temperature or other symptoms of respiratory infection within a month of their arrival, they will be required to seek medical advice.
Any students who may have been in Wuhan or suspect they may have been in contact with the virus, are required to stay away from school for one week.
National response
The New Zealand Government says it is alert to the issue but not alarmed. The MOH advises the risk of an outbreak in New Zealand is low, but it is monitoring the situation closely. It will advise if any public health measures become necessary. As a precautionary measure, the Government is taking an all-of-Government approach with meetings starting today. Education New Zealand (ENZ) is participating in these meetings, which are led by the MOH.
International education sector
We are working closely with the MOE to share information and communicate with the international education sector. To date, we have responded to some questions from education providers about the situation. We are monitoring issues and developing responses and information for providers.
We will provide further updates as we receive them.
In summary:
- the risk of an outbreak in New Zealand is currently low and the MOH’s current advice is that there is no specific action to be taken at this time
- just to reaffirm, there are no cases of the virus in New Zealand currently
- should the situation change, as we do with other infectious diseases such as measles, mumps and influenza, we will follow our pandemic plan for managing the illness
- for those of you concerned about possible infection, the MOH has provided practical information on their website which we encourage you to read – Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) guidance – Ministry of Health website
- included in there is some advice (for travellers) to help reduce the general risk of infection:
- avoiding very close contact with people showing symptoms
- frequently washing hands
- avoiding close contact with sick live farm animals or wild animals
- practicing cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands).
- the Ministry of Health will continue to update that content, as further information becomes available
If you wish to contact the school about this matter, please contact either Colleen Steyn – Director of International College or Mike Vannoort – Principal.
We would encourage you to continue to uphold this matter in prayer.
In Christ
Mike Vannoort
Principal
