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Guidance for schools and kura
As you will be aware the Government has removed the COVID-19 Protection Framework and we have moved to a new long-term approach to managing COVID-19.
Mask wearing
As noted, masks are no longer strongly recommended in school settings reflecting advice from public health. We will review our mask policy setting for our school, to ensure it aligns with this latest advice. Masks can continue to be one of a number of tools (layers of protection) that can be used to minimise spread of infectious illnesses in school, if our risk assessment determines this action is warranted. An example of this might be where absences due to COVID-19 and winter illness are impacting our ability to remain open onsite.
We will continue to support those who choose to wear a mask over and above any school policies.
The mask exemption pass and other mask exemptions (for example people under 12) only apply in settings where mask wearing is mandated by the new mask Health Order.
More information on masks is on the Ministry of Health website:
COVID-19: Use of face masks in the community – Ministry of Health
Household contacts
Household contacts, including those who have not had COVID-19 in the past 90 days, do not need to isolate for seven days. Household contacts are recommended to test daily for five days from when the case in their household tests positive and wear a mask when they are out. If they subsequently test positive, they will be considered a ‘case’ and be required to complete seven days of isolation. Household contacts who have COVID-19 symptoms should stay home regardless of the result of their rapid antigen test (RAT). People with COVID-19 must continue to self-isolate for seven days.
Our staff will be encouraged to advise us if they are a household contact, so that we can discuss how they will approach this situation including:
whether additional risk-management actions are appropriate or
where the employee wishes to work from home for health and safety reasons.
However, children, students and staff are not required to advise us they are a household contact. We are unable to ask for evidence of a negative RAT test to enable attendance at school.
Household contacts currently isolating can now follow the new self-isolation guidelines. If they test negative and are asymptomatic, they do not need to self-isolate.
COVID-19: Information for household and close contacts – Ministry of Health
Protecting those most vulnerable
COVID-19 remains a severe and highly infectious disease and we will continue to have people in our community who are vulnerable to becoming very unwell.
It will be timely to review our health and safety plans for those more vulnerable individuals. Our plans may include:
reducing the numbers of staff working in close contact with the individual
ensuring ākonga are positioned in well ventilated parts of school spaces while indoors
building a class culture of manaakitanga that supports good hygiene habits
staff working in close contact with a vulnerable person wearing a well-fitted, medical grade mask.
We will also check that the families are aware of the continuing protections which include:
free vaccinations
free boosters for eligible people
free P2/N95 masks for eligible people
free RATs (rapid antigen tests)
free antiviral medication for eligible people, including widening eligibility criteria to all New Zealanders 65 and over, all Māori and Pacific peoples aged 50 and over and those with three high-risk medication conditions.
New criteria can be found at:
COVID-19 medicines - Ministry of Health
Further information for those at higher risk – Ministry of Health
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