Kia ora, Parents and Caregivers

The country has now moved into Phase 3 of the Red Setting of the COVID-19 Protection Framework (CPF) due to the much larger numbers of daily cases being recorded.

You may have seen in the media that there are increasing numbers of cases being reported in schools. This was expected as it is only natural that school settings reflect what is occurring across the country. Please note that school settings are still very safe environments due the health measures that have been put in place, such as mask wearing and physical distancing.

I would like to update you on the key changes that the move to Phase 3 brings to our college community:

· Only confirmed positive cases and household contacts of positive cases will be required to isolate for 10 days from now on. Everyone else, including those who may have had close contact with the case but aren’t in the household, must continue to monitor closely for any symptoms of COVID-19, but they do not need to isolate.

· If anyone in your family is confirmed as having COVID-19 via a PCR test, you will be notified via text and given relevant instructions. You are required to notify your close contacts yourself. Please also contact the school on rector@lindisfarne.school.nz as soon as possible if your son has tested positive for COVID-19. The isolation period is 10 days from the positive test.

· Rapid antigen tests (RATs) will start to become more widely available for people to self-test for COVID-19. This means that you will get an almost immediate test result back if a RAT is used. The isolation period is still 10 days if you test positive and we ask you to contact the school to inform us that your son is isolating as a positive case.

· If your son tests positive after taking a RAT test, you will need to report this yourself. This link provides you with relevant contact details to report a positive result:https://covid19.govt.nz/testing-and-tracing/covid-19-testing/rapid-antigen-tests-rats/

· Contact tracing will not be required as a result of contact in the day school.

· As the boarding house is classed as the boys’ home, contact tracing will still need to be done via the hostel. Director of Boarding Mr Ahern will work with senior staff to identify close contacts who will be required to go home to isolate for 10 days.

· Please note that if your son is isolating at home because he is a household contact or a hostel close contact, he will need to test on Day 3 and Day 10. He may return to school after this if he has recovered and if tests are clear.

· Students who develop Covid-19 symptoms must remain at home and get a test at Phase 3. If the test (PCR or RAT) is negative and symptoms are no longer present, he may return to school without any further isolation

Please find attached a useful flow chart that clarifies what positive cases and household contacts need to do at Phase 3.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding. We will maintain regular communication with you as required at Phase 3.

Our COVID-19 Updates page on our website is a useful place to find further information and regular communications: https://www.lindisfarne.school.nz/News-Events-1/COVID19-Updates-and-information-1

Please do not hesitate to contact the College if you have any questions about the information in this message.

Ngā mihi

Stuart Hakeney
RECTOR

Article added: Monday 28 February 2022