A student of Gisborne Boys’ High School and a staff member from Hauora Tairāwhiti are part of the three new COVID-19 cases announced yesterday.
Hauora Tairāwhiti and Ministry of Education have worked closely with the school since a positive result was received last night. Approximately 30 students and 7 teachers have been identified as school contacts.
School contacts aren’t considered close contacts due to the school protection settings such as mask wearing, distancing and the fluid movement of students. School contacts require self-isolation until a negative test result is received and the medical officer of health is confident there hasn’t been any transmission at the school.
Boys’ High students should attend school as normal tomorrow unless contacted directly by phone today.
Parents should check their children for any symptoms, get them tested and remain at home if any coughing, sneezing, runny nose or flu-like symptoms appear.
It is believed the Hauora Tairāwhiti staff member was infected in the community and not through patient contact. Health services are confident there was no exposure with patients.
The third case is a local resident who got tested after the onset on mild symptoms. Thanks to their constant tracking of movements through the COVID tracer app, contact tracing is well-advanced.
Hauora Tairāwhiti chief executive Jim Green says the sources of transmission are still unknown.
“I want to thank our contact tracing teams who are working tirelessly to meticulously track movements and possible exposure events,” he said.
“We’re seeing that the COVID protection measures within our school and work environments are working well, but as a community we cannot be complacent.
“We must continue to scan in wherever we go, self-isolate immediately when symptoms appear and get tested. In this hot weather, it’s important we practice good hygiene like washing our hands and keeping our distance from those outside our home bubble.”