15 Feb 2022

Covid-19: 163 schools and early childhood centres have cases

4:46 pm on 15 February 2022

More than 160 schools, kura, and early childhood centres are managing identified Covid-19 cases in students or staff.

students wearing  mask and  studying in the classroom.

Children in Year 4 and above are required to wear face masks while indoors. Photo: 123RF

Of the 163 schools and ECEs nationwide with cases, 76 are primary schools.

More than half the educational institutions affected are in Auckland, with 93, followed by the Waikato region with 30 schools and ECEs managing coronavirus cases.

Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatū and Canterbury are the only regions which have no cases, figures from the Ministry of Education show.

Schools remain open under the Omicron strategy and a mandate requires children in Year 4 and above to wear face masks while indoors to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

For children Year 3 and under, the Ministry of Health said mask wearing was encouraged, but not required.

In Auckland, 21 early learning services, 44 primary schools, 6 intermediate schools and 22 secondary schools have identified cases.

South Auckland primary schools have been considering whether to host vaccine clinics to help vaccinate the region's 5 to 11-year-olds. Principals in the area say Counties Manukau DHB has asked them to allow vaccinations on their sites.

As of Monday, 45 percent of eligible 5 to 11 year olds have had their first Covid-19 vaccine.

Schools or early learning services with cases in other regions were: Wellington (17) Bay of Plenty/ Waiariki (14), Northland (5), Otago/Southland (2), Hawke's Bay (1) and Nelson/Marborough/West Coast (1).

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