Large numbers of southern school pupils and students spent yesterday in isolation, either by necessity or choice, as Covid-19 continued to run rife through the region’s young.
More than half of Carisbrook School pupils were kept at home by parents yesterday after news of a positive case at the school, while large numbers of University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic students were in self-isolation yesterday after several student parties were listed as close contact locations of interest.
Another 69 cases of Covid-19 were reported in the South yesterday by the Southern District Health Board, part of a record 1929 community cases in New Zealand. There were 222 active cases in Otago and Southland, an SDHB spokeswoman said.
The SDHB figure was slightly lower than that reported by the Ministry of Health, which reports earlier than the board.
Figures released by the ministry yesterday showed that of the cases in Otago and Southland during the current outbreak, the most afflicted age group was 20-29-year-olds.
Seven children aged under 9 had also contracted the disease.
Carisbrook School principal Katrina Munro said only 34 children and some staff had been required to isolate, but yesterday 194 pupils were off school from a roll of 300.
"Our parents have been appreciative of what we have done and we have got lots of good feedback of how we have handled it, but they have chosen to keep their children away today," Ms Munro said.
"But we’re still open and we have assured parents that if their children are not close contacts it can be school as usual and that if they are close contacts they will be notified."
Bradford School also has a Covid case.
"We are all well prepared and we have very clear procedures to go through," principal Emma Knopp said.
"It was a fright for everyone initially, but the community has been very good and taken things in their stride."
SDHB paediatrician and paediatric infectious disease specialist Kara DuBray said that generally, schools should be a safe environment for children.
"Children’s education is valuable and we would want to keep life as normal as possible for them," she said.
The best protection for children would be for anyone who was eligible to be within a household to get vaccinated, Dr DuBray said.
Police, health authorities and the University of Otago vice-chancellor all blasted the organisers of a London St student party which went ahead on Thursday night despite news of a person or persons with Covid-19 having attended parties in Castle and Howe Sts in recent days.
Vice-chancellor David Murdoch said some students needed to do better.
SDHB medical officer of health Dr Susan Jack said it was too early to determine if there had been any spread of Covid-19 from the parties.
As of 1pm yesterday, 158 close contacts were isolating in the south, 67 in Queenstown Lakes and 74 in Dunedin.
— Additional reporting: Oscar Francis.
Southern cases
Male: 125. 0-9 years: 2. 10-19: 9. 20-29: 65. 30-39: 39. 40-49: 5. 50-59: 3. 60-69: 2.
Female: 101. 0-9: 5. 10-19: 16. 20-29: 43. 30-39: 25. 40-49: 4. 50-59: 7. 60-69: 1.
Unknown gender: 1. 20-29: 1.
Source: Ministry of Health
Current cases
Southern District
Total new: 35
Total active: 153
Dunedin
Total new: 9
Total active: 15
Invercargill
Total new: 0
Total active: 3
Q’town-Lakes
Total new: 23
Total active: 123
Clutha
Total new: 0
Total active: 0
Gore
Total new: 1
Total active: 5
Waitaki
Total new: 1
Total active: 1
Southland
Total new: 0
Total active: 5
Central Otago
Total new: 1
Total active: 1
Source: Ministry of Health, 11.59pm, February 16
