“Creating a safe and supportive environment for your child”
Covid-19 Response
New Zealand’s Covid-19 Protection Framework (Traffic lights) ended at 11:59pm on Monday 12 September 2023. With immunity high and case numbers low, most Covid-19 rules have now ended in New Zealand.
The Next Phase:
* Students who test positive for COVID-19 need to stay home from school and isolate for at least 5 days, even if they only have mild symptoms, starting at Day 0. Day 0 is the day the symptoms started or when they tested positive, whichever came first.
* Students who are Household Contacts need to complete a RAT test each day, for five days. Students who have a daily negative test result and do not have Covid-19 symptoms can continue to attend school.
* Mask wearing remains optional at school (and will be supported) for those who choose to wear them
Covid-19 Health and Safety Protocols
We are continuing with all of the recommended health and safety measures, which play an important part to help reduce transmission of infectious illnesses including Covid-19 and at our school and keep everyone as safe as possible.
These measures include ensuring our indoor spaces are well-ventilated, maintaining good hand hygiene, encouraging everyone to cough/sneeze into elbows and most importantly, staying home and getting tested if they have Covid-19 symptoms.
You can read more about our Long Term Covid-19 Strategy here
The health and wellbeing of our students, staff and community remains a top priority.
Thank you for your ongoing support in protecting our Owairoa ‘Family’.
Covid-19 Symptoms
For most people, symptoms of COVID-19 will be mild and can be managed at home. It is important to keep an eye on symptoms, particularly if they seem to be getting worse, and get help straight away if needed.
- Please keep your child home if your child tests positive
- Please keep your child home if your child is sick
Mild symptoms
You may experience mild or no symptoms. These can include:
- sneezing and runny nose
- sore throat
- body aches
- cough
- feeling tired
- headache
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhoea
Keep an eye on your symptoms
Symptoms tend to show 2 to 5 days after a person has been infected. It can take up to 14 days.
If your symptoms are getting worse, or if you would like to talk to someone about your healthcare, call Healthline on 0800 358 5453
What you need to do:
- Be very vigilant about monitoring for symptoms
- If any symptoms develop, get tested immediately
- Then, stay at home until you receive a negative result, AND until you or your child is symptom free for at least 48 hours
- Wear a face mask when out and about
- Wash hands often with soap for 20 seconds and dry your hands completely
- Wash your hands if you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- Avoid touching your face, and cough or sneeze into your elbow or cover your mouth with tissues
- If you and your family haven’t been vaccinated or boosted, please do so as soon as possible. You can book online at bookmyvaccine.nz or by calling 0800 28 29 26
Notifying the School
It is important that you inform us if an Owairoa student has tested positive for Covid-19, by emailing our office on absent@owairoa.school.nz.
Please include
- child’s name
- room number
- type of test taken
- date their symptoms first started
School Communication
For the most up to date information related to Covid-19 at Owairoa Primary School, please download our Skoolbag App or check out our Notices Page to see the notices and newsletters that are sent to our school community.
Masks for Sale
We have a supply of children’s KN95 face masks available for sale. These are available for purchase through our Kindo Online School Shop.
We also have a supply of children’s Nano Kids face masks available for sale, also available via our Kindo Online School Shop.
