COVID-19 updates 22 April 2020

There are 27 cases in Northland, of which 14 have recovered, 13 are active with 1 currently in hospital. Nationally, there are 2 new confirmed and 3 probable cases of COVID-19. Sadly, there have been two deaths today. A woman in her 70’s passed away in Auckland and a 49-year-old New Zealander who was holidaying in Peru, also died from COVID-19. We send our thoughts and aroha to their whānau! The total number of COVID-19 cases is now 1,445, of which 124 are Māori. Including a person in Northland, there are 12 people in hospital with COVID-19, three are in ICU. 1006 people have recovered. There were 3,203 tests yesterday and in total 89,503 tests have been done to date. The Ministry of Health will continue community testing this week, particularly in Tairāwhiti, Taranaki and Northland.

We will move from Alert Level 4 to Level 3 next Monday, 11.59pm. Until then, we are still in Level 4 so it’s important that we all continue to stay at home. STAY HOME, SAVE LIVES! KIA KAHA WHANAU!

From today Ngāti Hine Health Trust are holding outreach clinics to undertake COVID-19 testing and flu vaccinations for those eligible.

Be like at McDonalds, Drive on up & stay in your car for testing

Click here for more information 
or call 0800 737 573 for more information

The Ngātiwai ki Tamaki team are doing the mahi supporting our whānau in and around Auckland.

Like in Tai Tokerau, the collaboration is the key to the success of this mahi, and we acknowledge the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), Te Ha Oranga o Ngāti Whatua and Auckland Transport in supporting our our team in Auckland to support our whānau.

The feedback and appreciation our tamaki team are getting from our kaumātua has been humbling to all those involved.

​Ka mau te wehi Ngātiwai ki tamaki!!

0800 120 068 – Ngātiwai ki Tamaki COVID-19 Helpline

\”Manaaki\” is an online support service which offers expert advice to small to medium sized businesses has been set up, and allows participants to ask questions and seek advice for free. The tool is designed to allow for experts and other business owners to provide and share support during the COVID-19 period and beyond.

Need advice, or someone to connect with to help you find a solution?
Click here to read more

Northland continues to feel the impacts of the drought which has affected basic access to drinking water for whanau as well as impacting on the livelihoods of farmers throughout the district. There is some support available through the Ministry for Primary Industries. Please encourage farms and whanau to apply for this additional support, regardless whether it is for COVID-19 impact support or drought or neither, the support is free and available here.

Read: Northland drought: No feed, no water and coronavirus increases farmers\’ stress

Under Alert Level 3 most children and young people will be continuing distance learning.

• Early learning centres and schools will be open for students up to Year 10. But children who can stay home, should stay home. At-risk students and staff, including those over 70, should stay home.
• Residential and special schools will not reopen for students to physically attend in the early stages of Alert Level 3. They may reopen later if public health measures can be implemented.
• Most children who need to attend school can do so from 29 April. It may take longer for some schools to be ready and the Ministry of Education will work with them to prepare.
• NCEA students in Years 11-13 will continue remotely. Teachers will continue to support students while they are at home.
• For tertiary education, Alert Level 3 means remote learning will continue. Where that is not possible, some facilities may reopen with strict physical distancing in place.
• Students currently in hostels or self-contained flats can stay there with strict rules, but if students moved home to join their family bubbles they should stay there.
• The Ministry of Education has been working with sector groups to work through any practical issues. Detailed advice to support schools will be released over the next week.
• Our approach to reopening schools is based on the latest public health advice. Physical distancing will be difficult with young children, however we’ve reached the point where the Director-General is confident we have no widespread community transmission.
• It is important that parents do their bit – keep children at home if you can, especially if they are unwell. Strictly maintain your family bubble outside of school and work and basic hygiene.
• Distance learning will be with us for some time, for at least another three weeks. We’ve started the distribution of technology, equipment and resources to support this.
• To the parents out there, be kind to yourself we are not expecting parents to completely replace the classroom environment at home. These are extraordinary times.
• Thanks to our education professionals for their hard work to support their schools and students.

Click here for all information on Education from the NZ Government

The government says Early Childhood Centres can reopen next Wednesday for children who can\’t learn from home or whose parents are going back to work.

But the National Kōhanga Reo Trust isn\’t convinced the decision to reopen under Alert level 3 is the right one.

Watch Te Ao news story here

Students are now learning from home for the start of Term 2. School holidays were brought forward to run from 30 March through to 14 April, with distance learning starting on 15 April.

Many schools and kura were already well set up to deliver distance learning. The Government are working with a number of partners, including telecommunications companies, to support as needed all schools and kura to deliver distance learning for their students.

Here are facebook posts with updates for Whangārei schools during this time:
– Whangarei Boys High School
– Whangarei Girls High School
– Tikipunga High School
– Kamo High School
– Te Kāpehu Whetū
​- Whananaki School
​- Whangaruru School
– Whangarei Intermediate School
​- Whangarei Primary School
– Manaia View School
​- Horohoro School
– Raurimu School
– Kamo Intermediate School
– Morningside School
– Totara Grove School
– Parua Bay School
– Onerahi School