Student at Pāpāmoa school tests positive for Covid-19

A student at a Pāpāmoa school has tested positive for Covid-19.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson confirmed one of the cases publicly reported last week was associated with Te Akau Ki Pāpāmoa Primary School.

They said the school was identified as an exposure event after interviews were completed by public health staff.

"As is standard protocol, public staff notified the school of the case and that it was classified as an exposure site, because all contacts could be identified.

"The school made the decision to close, which was supported by Toi Te Ora."

They said a "total of almost 200 contacts have been identified" in the school community made up of staff and students.

Te Akau ki Pāpāmoa principal Bruce Jepsen said the school had moved "succinctly" into distance learning, with all students based at home today.

Communication on the positive case was sent out to families on Friday afternoon and close contacts of the case were being deemed by the Ministry of Health, he said.

"We are a one-to-one digital school, so we have been able to move succinctly into distance learning."

Jepsen praised efforts made by the Ministry, saying they had been "good communicators and very supportive".

"They have been guiding us all the way through."

No new cases of Covid-19 were announced in the Bay of Plenty District Health Board area today . There were 48 active cases in the area.

A new exposure window was added to a previously announced location of interest, the Whakatāne Hospital Emergency Department.

Anyone who was there on Thursday between 6.15pm and 7.30pm should self-monitor for Covid-19 symptoms for 10 days after the exposure, get a test if any develop, and stay at home until 24 hours after they test negative.

As at 4pm, no other new locations were listed for the Bay.