Central is entering the 'long tail' of the outbreak according to Southern District Health Board but impacts are sticking around, as more teachers and students get sick or must isolate due to being household contacts of covid cases. 

Dunstan High School principal Reece Goldmsith said covid-19 certainly didn’t have a break over Easter and the school probably had the most active daily cases last week.

The daily active numbers for the school has dropped this week.

“We only had one new case on Tuesday which believe it or not we were quite excited about!”

Attendance numbers were solid, with around 80% attending (usually it is 90%) and a total number of 40 active cases at the school.

Reece said permanent staff and relief staff had been badly impacted.

“We currently have 12 staff absent as either covid cases or household contacts.

“Mask wearing, after being really good last term has now dropped away with only a few students chosing to wear a mask. A number of staff are still choosing to wear a mask.”

Reece said students were carrying out at online learning on the days they were rostered home and he expected it would have minimal impact at the end of the year. 

“Our students are getting pretty used to working from home after two years of practice so while it is not ideal, they are in the main engaging well.”

The school has had to amend it’s rostering home schedule, to have two year groups rostered home each day for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week. Friday is a planned teacher only day for Dunstan High. 

Cromwell College principal Mason Stretch said there were 11 staff away due to covid but that student attendance has improved by about 10% from late last term, up to 85% now.

"In orange mask wearing is no longer mandatory. Students and staff are being encouraged to wear them but fewer are doing so this term. 

"We have had wonderful support from our whānau with the rostering home and students have been responsible in continuing their learning online. 

"Our teachers are doing well covering classes for colleagues and being proactive with setting the learning. There is a sense of goodwill and mahi tahi, working together, across the school to manage the challenges with covid.

"We have developed some strong systems to support hybrid learning and students have adapted well," Mason said.

A Southern District Health Board (SDHB) media release that the district has entered the 'long tail' of the outbreak, with expectations that covid-19 infections will continue to be widespread for the foreseeable future, and as such residents need to remain vigilant when out and about.

Dr Hywel Lloyd, SDHB COVID-19 Response Lead said we need to all assume that when we are out in the community there is a very real risk that we will come in contact with the covid-19 virus.

"This can cause anxiety for many people, especially those who are vulnerable to severe covid symptoms. The best way we can all protect ourselves and others, is to follow the simple actions that we have been talking about for a long time now: wear a mask when out in public and in social settings, practise good hand hygiene and physical distancing where appropriate and get your covid-19 booster shot."

Numbers were 744 new positive cases and 5125 total cases for Southern for the past day. Central Otago had 76 new positive cases reported and a total of 395 active cases.

Twenty one people were in hospitals in the Southern district.Thirteen people in Dunedin (two were in ICU), 7 in Southland and one person in Dunstan hospital.

Southern case map May 11, showing case locations. PHOTO: SDHB

On May 10 New Zealand recorded more than one million cases of covid-19 since the pandemic began said the Ministry of Health.

As winter approaches SDHB is also seeing an increase in influenza infection, with presentations at emergency departments because of flu already increasing. 

Medical Officer of Health Dr Susan Jack said for the last few years, we have seen an absence of flu infections in our communities, but this year we are already seeing cases.

“If you are eligible for a free flu vaccination, we would highly recommend that you go and get it now. New Zealand's borders have opened, and while we welcome visitors, we are also now seeing flu strains circulating in our communities. A flu vaccination will reduce your risk of severe flu symptoms, reduce the likelihood that you will require hospital level care, and decrease the likelihood that you will pass the influenza virus onto others.”  

Flu (influenza) vaccination is free for anyone over 65, Māori and Pacific people over 55, pregnant people, and anyone with underlying health conditions.

Flu vaccination is available through your GP, or you can find your nearest location offering flu vaccination here: Pharmacy • Healthpoint  

You can find out more about the flu vaccination here: Flu (influenza) vaccines | Ministry of Health NZ