Covid 19 coronavirus: Auckland student tests positive, Chapel Downs school closes for the week

An Auckland primary school closed its doors for the rest of the week after one of its students tested positive for Covid-19.

The Chapel Downs School student and three close contacts were the last at school on Monday, parents were told.

The four young men were only at Flat Bush School for 30 minutes before being picked up at 9 am.

“The child tested positive for the virus later that day,” the school shared on Facebook.

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service was working to identify any close contacts (any student and staff member who may have been closer than 2m to the student for more than 15 minutes) from the four students.

Parents have been asked to keep their children at home until ARPHS contacts them. Staff were also advised not to attend school.

Principal Vaughan van Rensburg said public health officials informed the school of the case at 2 p.m. today.

“The community has been very supportive and we look forward to seeing the children back in school,” he said.

He was unable to provide further details.

Chapel Downs will undergo a deep cleaning and will reopen next Monday, pending advice from public health officials.

Parents were urged to remain vigilant for symptoms of Covid-19 in their children, including a new or worsening cough, sore throat, runny nose or fever.

“Lastly, if you know the identity of the student or family with Covid-19, do not reveal their names or details to anyone else and discourage your children from speculating or identifying them on social media,” the parents were told.

“This can lead to harassment and abuse online.”

Only one new case of Covid-19 was reported today, a recent returnee to New Zealand who tested positive for the virus while in controlled isolation.

The woman in her 30s arrived from Dubai on September 9 and was linked to the three border cases announced yesterday.

But a whānau is grieving over the loss of a second loved one, who died of Covid-19 within two weeks of his brother.

Nigel Te Hiko passed away Wednesday at Waikato Hospital, where he has spent several weeks in the ICU.

The 54-year-old man is the youngest person in Aotearoa to die from Covid-19.

He is believed to have contracted the virus from his brother Alan, who died in Auckland Hospital on September 4.

Bloomfield said Te Hiko’s family had a message for New Zealanders:

“The man’s whānau has asked us to tell the country that the coronavirus is so real and to be vigilant and cautious.

“They have made an appeal to all New Zealanders: If you are sick and have symptoms, stay home and seek advice on how to get tested,” said Bloomfield.

Bloomfield said the man’s death highlighted the seriousness of Covid-19 and said his thoughts were with Te Hiko’s family.

“Ngāti Raukawa has clearly lost a rangatira … they mourn the loss of their loved one.

“I can’t imagine how devastating this is for this whānau,” said Bloomfield.

He said the death was another reminder of how dangerous the virus was, especially for those with pre-existing conditions.

The death rate in New Zealand was between 1 and 2 percent of the country’s confirmed cases.