Central Otago will reopen today and although masks are recommended, they will not be mandatory.

Public health experts have been calling for a more stringent level 2, with rules including mandatory mask-wearing in high schools and school buses.

"My guidance would be recommending the use of masks in schools, but not requiring it," director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said earlier in the week.

Ashley says children aged 12 or older should wear masks, but it would not be mandatory.

Secretary for Education Iona Holsted is believed to have sent out the latest health guidance to schools in recent days. 

"We are not expecting large-scale change to the settings, however, face coverings for age 12-plus are recommended," she said in a statement. 

Cleaners, contractors and some staff have already been on school premises in order to prepare. 

"While many people will be delighted to return to school, some students will be apprehensive and over the next few days we will provide advice and template letters for you to share with whānau if you wish," Iona says. 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the school opening plan earlier in the week as she outlined the move to alert level 2 outside of Auckland. 

Schools have navigated alert level changes before, but never with such an infectious variant of COVID-19 as in the Delta outbreak.