Coronavirus Information - as at 28 January 2020

We are closely monitoring the situation in China with regards to the concerns around a potentially pandemic virus. We are aware that we have students, families and staff returning from overseas travel. We have procedures in place for the incidence of infectious diseases, and we will be revisiting them with our staff on their return to school on Thursday. We are also monitoring the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and Safe Travel NZ sites to ensure we have access to the most up-to-date information and advisories. During the 2019 measles outbreak, schools received regular updates from these organisations.

As with all infectious diseases, and in line with our existing procedures, we have the following steps in place;

**Strong hygiene and cleaning practices in place during school time and by school cleaners

**Reminders for students and staff about good personal hygiene practice (wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, cover your coughs and sneezes).

**Monitoring students for symptoms of fever, runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, faint, muscle ache, other general unwell feeling and contacting parents if these are present

As with all illness in a school/community setting, children and adults are advised not to come to school if they are unwell.

We know that some local organisations have advised their employees to remain at home for one week if returning to NZ from central China and locations close to the city of Wuhan. Whilst we are not recommending this at the current time, we may consider this as an option if advised to do so by DHB or government organisations. The Ministry of Education has also stated:

• the risk of an outbreak in New Zealand is currently low and Health’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 Ministry of Health 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)

Please contact the school if you have any further questions regarding the Coronavirus.

We look forward to seeing all of our students back on Monday 3 February.

Regards

Shaki, Juanita, Ellie, Iona and Mike