{"id":4450,"date":"2020-03-12T15:46:10","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T02:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mhjc.school.nz\/?p=4450"},"modified":"2020-03-12T15:47:44","modified_gmt":"2020-03-12T02:47:44","slug":"latest-from-ministry-of-education-about-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mhjc.school.nz\/index.php\/2020\/03\/12\/latest-from-ministry-of-education-about-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Latest from Ministry of Education about COVID-19 (at 13 March 2020)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n
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Kia ora<\/em><\/h3>\n\u00a0You may have seen that the World Health Organisation has now declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. As noted by the Minister of Health, this doesn\u2019t change what New Zealand is doing to respond to coronavirus.<\/em>
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The Ministry of Health has been working through its pandemic plan since January. You will also know the Government has already implemented a range of measures to minimise the impacts to New Zealand. This includes border restrictions, a requirement to self-isolate on arrival in New Zealand from China, Iran, Italy and the Republic of Korea and immediate and detailed contact tracing of any confirmed cases. It is important to note those four countries account for more than 90% of cases globally and China and the Republic of Korea have significantly declining numbers of new cases.<\/em>
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We have 5 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand and it is pleasing to know they are all doing well and are at home.\u00a0 Their children, four students at Auckland schools, continue to be well and show no symptoms. While we expect that more cases will arise, the Ministry of Health says that with continued vigilance the chance of widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low in New Zealand. We all have a role to play in this.<\/em>
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Schools have been advised to develop their\u00a0 pandemic plan so it will be ready to be implemented if needed. In the mean time we need to continue to focus on good hygiene practices. Hand washing and good cough etiquette are very important tools in preventing the spread of illness including colds, flu and COVID-19.<\/em>
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With that, there is a good video clip from Nanogirl that will help your children to better understand the virus –<\/em>\u00a0YouTube clip – Nanogirl<\/a>
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You may have also seen the Prime Minister sat down with Dr Michelle Dickinson (aka Nanogirl) and the Prime Minister\u2019s Chief Science Advisor, Juliet Gerrard, to talk about coronavirus:<\/em>\n