Principal allays Covid fears at Aquinas College

An adult volunteer in one of the school’s sports teams has tested positive for Covid. Image: Daniel Hines/SunLive.

The risk of Covid-19 at Aquinas College is considered low after a public health investigation into a positive case there.

An email sent to the school community by principal Matt Dalton is reassuring people there was no exposure events at the college or on the college grounds after a member of a sports team tested positive.

The email was sent this evening and has been forwarded to SunLive.

'Toi Te Ora Public Health has concluded their investigation and, as a result, have identified no casual contacts,” Matt writes in the email.

This means there are no further actions required for the college, he says.

'I understand the news of this positive case has been unsettling, and this was reflected in student attendance today.

'I must reiterate that there was no exposure event at the college or on the college grounds. The current medical advice is that school is safe for all students.”

Matt reveals the positive case is an adult volunteer in the sports team but says for privacy reasons he cannot identify the team.

'The person was infectious at a match held away from the college's grounds on Saturday, November 20,” says Matt.

'Those in close contact with the case have been provided with the appropriate public health advice, including testing and isolation requirements.

Matt says the person is double vaccinated as is required under the Public Health Order.

'This fact, coupled with other precautions the team had in place and with the match being outdoors, means the risk of transmission is lowered.

Aquinas College is one of three schools in the Western Bay of Plenty to have positive Covid cases.

Te Puna School is closed after two pupils attended classes last week whilst potentially infectious with Covid-19.

Another letter sent to Mount Maunganui Intermediate parents this morning confirms a Covid case has been identified in one of the school's students.

After speaking with the Ministry of Health last night, the school says the ministry's advice was to stay open today.

'Our school is staying open based on international and local evidence and experience, the risk of Covid-19 transmission within school settings is considered to be low,” reads the letter.

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