Rangitoto College student in isolation after home contact tests positive for Covid-19

A student at New Zealand’s largest school is in isolation after a person in his home tested positive for Covid-19.

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service has written to the parents of Rangitoto College students saying the student is not a close contact as they have only had minimal contact with the infected person.

“The student is doing well and has had a negative test result. He has only been in school for a very short time since his family member got sick.

“Please be assured that it is highly unlikely that the student was contagious with Covid-19 while at school. The whole family is in isolation and no one else in the house has been in school since their relative became contagious. “.

The risk to students and staff is “very low” and the school is able to function as planned.

“If we receive more information on the level of risk, we will be in contact again.”

The health service said that, as a “precaution,” it was important to watch out for Covid-19 symptoms, such as a new or worsening cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever, temporary loss of smell and difficulty breathing. He urged parents, their children, and other household members to call a doctor if symptoms appear and to stay away from school.

“If you know the identity of the student or family, please do not reveal their names or details to anyone else, and discourage your children from speculating or identifying them on social media. This can lead to online bullying and abuse.”

Yesterday was the largest increase in a 24-hour period of active cases since the August outbreak with 25 new cases.

Two were new cases in the community after a 27-year-old dockworker transmitted the disease to his colleagues.

He is believed to have contracted the disease on a visiting ship, the Sofrana Surville.

Last night all customers and staff at The Malt Greenhithe were told last Friday to get tested and isolate themselves until they received a negative result, after one of the port workers spent around two and a half hours there.

Eighteen of the new cases were infected foreign fishermen staying at the Sudima Hotel in Christchurch and five were unrelated imported cases.