22 June 2009
Late last Friday we were advised, via the Ministry of Education, in response to a change in approach by the Ministry of Health, that NZ is transitioning from a containment phase to a management one.
This means that it is now unlikely that schools will be asked to close if they have suspected or confirmed cases. It also means that there will be no need for restrictions on people returning to school or work after an overseas trip, unless they have symptoms.
This means that we can modify our earlier stance, which was in line with earlier measures recommended by the Ministries of Health and Education, that people stay away for a period of one week after visiting an at risk area.
We now suggest that if people have been in an area where it is prevalent, or if they have been in contact with people showing symptoms, that good practice in making sure they are indeed free of symptoms, would be to give themselves at least a day’s grace before their return to school, to make absolutely sure symptoms aren’t emerging.
Along with this, we recommend that parents, caregivers and our students be very aware of good hygiene practice, around keeping themselves and others safe. The health information on the reverse side of this memo is good practice and can be followed in the home and at school, around any outbreak of influenza.
This memo outlines the new way that Tauhara College will operate as we enter the next phase of managing the pandemic. Parents and caregivers can put aside the previous recommendations in regard to the one week stand down from school. We hope that these new guidelines, through the co-operation of our school community, will enable us to minimize any risk sufficiently well to enable us to get through this next stage of the swine flu pandemic.
If you were given previous advice regarding travel arrangements during the containment phase, we will contact you to discuss the matter further. Should there be any further questions around this or anything else to do with the situation, please contact the school.
Thank you very much for your co-operation.
Peter Gould
Principal
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