Two more BOP schools have positive Covid-19 cases

Te Puke High School have informed parents of a positive case. Photo. Daniel Hines.

A further two schools in the Bay of Plenty have positive Covid-19 cases among students.

Tauranga Intermediate School and Te Puke High School have sent letters to parents and caregivers today detailing cases of Covid-19 among their student base.

In a letter addressed to parents and whānau this morning, Tauranga Intermediate principal Cameron Mitchell confirms a student has tested positive and is currently self-isolating.

'A confirmed case has been identified in our Tauranga Intermediate School community,” reads a post on the school's Facebook page.

Students and staff who are part of Tawa House at the school are considered close contacts. The student was not a bus user, so those using the bus for school are not considered close contacts either.

The school has remained open under official advice from the Ministry of Health.

'I have spoken with the Ministry of Health this morning and their advice was that we stay open,” says the principal in the Facebook post.

'Our school is staying open based on international and local evidence and experience, the risk of Covid-19 transmission within school settings is considered low. This means that it is no longer necessary for the school to immediately close when a case has been identified as infectious while at school.

'All Tawa students who have been in class and in the hall with the affected case have been contacted and asked to go home and isolate.

'They will all receive direct instructions from the Ministry of Health later today regarding testing requirements and will not return to school until they have completed their isolation and testing requirements.”

Cameron also asks students and parents to be vigilant for Covid-19 symptoms, get vaccinated if possible and that speculation on social media remains at a minimum.

'I realise that these are stressful times for everyone and (I) encourage families to be pragmatic in their approach.”

Tauranga Intermediate principal Cameron Mitchell has advised parents the risk remains low. Image: Google Maps.

A letter from Te Puke High School to parents confirms a year 13 student at the school has tested positive.

However, the student was not infectious when at school.

These are the latest cases of Covid-19 to be linked to schools in the Tauranga area.

Yesterday saw cases at Mount Intermediate School and Te Puna School communicated to parents and students. Aquinas College have also had a positive case associated with an adult volunteer of a sports team.

The risk to all schools is still considered low and the Ministry of Health informed SunLive this morning they are working with schools in the area to facilitate the best public health measures.

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