All students and staff including teachers and support staff at Te Akau ki Pāpāmoa School need to get tested immediately and self-isolate at home, says the principal in a post to the school's Facebook page on Tuesday evening.

More students at Te Akau ki Pāpāmoa School have tested positive for Covid-19. Parents and caregivers of the school's students were notified on Tuesday evening by Te Akau ki Pāpāmoa School principal Bruce Jepsen, who says the school is now closed.

Most Covid-19 testing stations in Tauranga will be open from 8am on Wednesday December 1 and can be found by clicking here

'The situation we are working through at Te Akau ki Pāpāmoa School is unique to our school, place and time,” says Bruce.

'Thank you all for remaining responsive to communications, staying calm and following Ministry of Health Guidelines.”

The principal went on to deliver important public health information to the school community.

'We have been working closely with the public health service and Ministry of Education officials to guide our response,” says Bruce.

'I have been informed by the Ministry of Health that more students have tested positive for Covid-19 at Te Akau ki Pāpāmoa School.

'All students are now considered close contacts and must self-isolate.

'All staff including teachers and support staff are now considered close contacts and must self-isolate.”

All students and staff have been identified as a ‘Close Contact' and need to get tested immediately, and self-isolate at home.

A Close Contact is someone that has been identified to have been near the person that has tested positive for Cove-19.

Bruce says that Day 0 for self-isolation will now be Friday November 26 for any students and staff who were at school on that day.

'A Ministry of Health official will make contact with you at some stage tomorrow to guide you through this process,” says Bruce.

He asks that people direct any health questions to the Ministry of Health officials rather post questions to the school's Facebook page.

On Friday November 26, the principal notified the school community by email that a student had tested positive for Covid-19.

On Sunday November 28, students were informed that to prioritise health and safety they would all move into ‘Tūhono' 1:1 Digital Distance Learning.

This means that all students would remain at home this week and receive teaching and learning from distance beginning Monday November 29. The plan was to review this and communicate the next steps on Friday December 3.

During the weekend, a deep clean of the entire school was undertaken and plans made to operationalise iPad cleaning and distribution/collection. With the announcement of the further positive Covid-19 cases today, these plans have had to be dropped.

'Today, a small team of school and Ministry of Education staff made arrangements for 'Tūhono -distance learning'. Unfortunately distribution of iPads and the current developments have shelved these plans,” says Bruce.

'The school is now closed for logistical reasons.”

Bruce says a review of the situation will be undertaken early next week.

'Thank you for your continued support, stay safe everyone. Kia Kaha,” writes Bruce in his Facebook post.

Checking symptoms:

Please watch for symptoms of Covid-19. If you develop any of the following symptoms, no matter how mild, ring Healthline on 08003585453 or your doctor, and get tested. Healthline is a free 24/7 service with interpreters available.

Common symptoms of Covid-19 are like those found with illnesses such as a cold or influenza.

You may have one or more of the following
● New or worsening cough
● Sneezing or runny nose
● Fever
● Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste
● Sore throat
● Shortness of breath.

Less common symptoms of Covid-19 may include:
● Diarrhoea
● Headache

● Muscle aches
● Nausea
● Vomiting
● Tiredness
● Chest pain
● Abdominal Pain
● Joint Pain
● Confusion or irritability.

These almost always occur with one or more of the common symptoms.

To book online for a vaccine go to www.bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz. There is
information on this website about finding your closest walk-in vaccination centre.

You can also go to www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19-vaccination or www.karawhiua.nz/all-clinics