RAS: Confirmation – Remaining at Alert Level 4

Tuesday 24 August 2021

Kia ora koutou

I think we had all anticipated a further extension of Alert Level 4, and the Prime Minister has confirmed this. The Alert Level will be reviewed on Friday afternoon, but for now, Alert Level 4 will remain in place until 12:59 pm Friday 27 August. Despite this news, it is really pleasing to see Alert Level 4 is having its impact on the number of confirmed cases, with numbers not dramatically increasing as they would likely have done if we had been at a lower Alert Level.

And so our distance learning programme will continue! You should all have had access to information shared with you around our Collection of Chrome Books and Learning Packs – this will happen on Wednesday 25 August. Please note that it is only in very limited circumstances that students, parents or caregivers are allowed to come to the school grounds. So please do not come to school unless you have been contacted by us to do so. Otherwise, you will be in breach of the COVID-19 Health Response Order.

You may be wondering how, with so many contacts being identified of confirmed cases, we aren’t seeing bigger case numbers identified. Just like the Delta variant is different, so has been New Zealand’s response. Previously we might have moved to Alert Level 2 or 3 if there was a new COVID-19 case in the community (which happened most recently in Wellington). This time we moved immediately to Alert Level 4 after only one case had been identified. There is a lot we can all do to protect our whānau and community from COVID-19 including:

  • Everyone must continue to stay home in their bubble.
  • Do not mix with other household bubbles – if they have COVID-19, it can easily spread to your household and every other household that they and you are connecting with.
  • As new cases are identified, new locations of interest are added to the Ministry of Health website. Please keep checking this. You can search by your location and they are sorted by date, so you only need to check the locations which have been added when you last checked.
  • Wash your hands regularly, especially when you have been out in public.
  • Stay home if you are feeling unwell and seek advice about whether you need to get a test.
  • Wear a face covering when out and about, and you MUST wear a face covering in any businesses or services which are open at Alert Level 4.
  • Keep a two-metre distance from people outside your household bubble.
  • Check-in using the NZ COVID Tracer App wherever you go or keep a manual record (a reminder the App only stores information on your own phone – no one else will know who it is that checked in, or when).
  • You can go to  COVID19.govt.NZ  website if you would like more information on Alert Level 4 requirements.

Key Local Contact Details

Finally, we know some families in our community may be finding it difficult to access food and essential items such as medicine.  Please use the following key local contact numbers for assistance.

  • Freephone 0800 800 405 has recently been set up by Waikato Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group for anyone in our district struggling to get food, groceries, medication or other household goods and services.
  • Raglan Foodbank 07 825 7543
  • Raglan Community House 07 825 8142
  • Raglan Neighbourhood Support email: raglanslists@gmail.com to get connected to your neighbourhood support group.
  • RN website for all key contact numbers and local info www.raglannaturally.co.nz

Please do take care and let us know how we can best support you and your whānau.

Kia kaha! Stay Safe. Stay well. Stay connected.

Ngā mihi – Whaea Louisa