And several specialist schools have also received extra purifiers. That's in recognition of the vulnerability of their students, who may be more prone to illness, may not be able to wear masks or socially distance, and for whom open windows could present a safety risk.
BUTTON: Search for a school to see how many air purifiers it received
In a statement accompanying the data, Ministry leader of operations Scott Evans said air cleaners provided a "modest improvement to ventilation, particularly when other solutions, such as opening windows and doors, are impractical".
They were a supplementary solution that could reduce Covid airborne transmission by filtering and recirculating the air within a space, he said. They would not lower CO2 levels but where air flow was low they would improve air quality.
"The number of air cleaners made available to each school is based on several factors, with more available to schools with larger rolls or in colder climate zones, and for lower decile and special schools. Where schools have identified ventilation challenges, we work with them to provide support, including the provision of further portable air cleaners if appropriate."
Schools could also buy air cleaners directly from the Ministry's supplier at a discounted rate.
The data - valid to July 8 - includes eight schools that were waiting on another 16 air purifiers to arrive due to transit delays.
"In the final school bulletin for Term 2, we informed schools that they could request
additional air cleaners for delivery in Term 3. From this, 15 schools have expressed
interest via email in additional air cleaners. These schools have been informed that
we will be in touch with an appropriate form/process shortly to action these requests.
x Please refer to 'Additional Air Cleaner Requests" sheet."
18 schools have been approved funding from the urgent ventilation property
improvements pool, totalling $594,533. Please refer to 'Funding' sheet.
Others may have carried out property improvements to increase ventilation through their five-year agreement funding.
Meanwhile some schools have taken air purifiers into their own hands.
At Manurewa High School - https://manurewa.ibcdn.nz/media/2022_07_01_27-june-2022-board-meeting-minutes.pdf
Recommend: Air purifiers for each classroom. MOE have funded 13 units, but
Pete has found some units that eliminates the COVID virus and also will be a good
help with the flu virus protection. Harder to ventilate classrooms in winter so
these purifiers will help. Approximate cost $40,000 TBC with ongoing filter
replacement costs 12-15 monthly.
https://www.somerfield.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/February-2022.pdf
http://pass.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/4.-Red-Traffic-Lights-at-PASS.pdf
https://www.chelsea.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/124/2021/12/BOT-Minutes-10-November-2021.pdf
https://www.ponsprim.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/March-2022.pdf
