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COVID-19 update - 12 September 2022

12 September 2022
Home
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he pitopito kōrero

He Pitopito Kōrero

COVID-19 update - 12 September 2022
FOREWORD

Kia ora koutou,

As you will be aware the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today that Cabinet agreed to remove the COVID-19 Protection Framework as of tonight, Monday 12 September at 11.59pm.

This special COVID-19 update outlines how these decisions will impact schools and kura.

We will include information on any updated guidance in tomorrow’s School Bulletin.

Not a COVID issue but I do want to take the opportunity to advise that the best laid plans to release provisional staffing and funding notices on 16 September will not be realised because it is taking longer to work through the impact of the pandemic on the 2023 provisional rolls than we expected. 

I am sorry that we couldn’t meet our self-imposed deadline and I apologise. I know that you are very keen to know what your staffing and funding projections for 2023 are, including the funding impacts of moving to the equity index.

I will provide updated advice as soon as possible.

Heoi anō tāku mō nāianei,

Iona
 

Long-term approach to COVID-19

The Government has announced that Aotearoa New Zealand will move to a new long-term approach to managing COVID-19. The key change is the removal of the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic lights), which will take effect tonight (Monday 12 September) from 11:59pm.

This decision to move away from the traffic lights of the COVID-19 Protection Framework has been made based on public health advice and reflects high levels of immunity in our communities and declining case numbers, which in turn has seen declining demand on the health system from COVID-19.

The two key changes impacting education providers are:

  • The removal of the requirement for household contacts to isolate. Instead, they will be asked to test for COVID-19 for five days. 
  • Masks are no longer required on public transport or school transport and in line with other mask changes, they are no longer strongly recommended in school settings.

Positive cases remain legally required to isolate for seven days. Anyone who is symptomatic, including household contacts, should stay at home and get tested for COVID-19.

More details on today’s announcement are on the Beehive website:

COVID-19 Protection Framework retired as NZ moves forward with certainty – Beehive

We have also updated the COVID-19 content on Te Mahau website to reflect today’s announcement.

Letter template for parents and whānau

Here is a letter template to support communications with your community. This can be edited to meet your needs.

Letter template for parents and whānau in English [DOCX, 23.5 KB]

Letter template for parents and whānau in te reo Māori [DOCX, 23.0 KB]

We are working quickly to update our key messages in multiple languages for parents, caregivers and whānau and will provide a link to this in a future bulletin and through Te Mahau website.

 

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