Teen’s illness closes school

Pupil is New Zealand’s 12th confirmed coronavirus patient

ADunedin high school student has tested positive for coronavirus.

The school the pupil attends, Logan Park High School, will now close for at least two days.

The pupil is New Zealand’s 12th confirmed coronavirus patient after three more cases were confirmed earlier yesterday.

The new cases included a Wellington father and son who had recently returned from the United States.

The high school student’s father, aged in his 40s, recently returned from Germany and tested positive for the virus. Two of the Dunedin man’s family members, including the student, had been in isolation after showing symptoms.

The man had only developed symptoms five days after returning, so there was no risk to others on the plane he travelled on, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said earlier yesterday.

A statement from Logan Park High School said the student did not attend school yesterday as a precaution after his father’s positive test.

The student was tested yesterday and the school was told in the after-noon that he had tested positive for the respiratory virus.

“While this isn’t the outcome we were hoping for, there is a plan in place which has been activated,” the school said.

“We believe that the family have done everything according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health. The parent and student are in isolation. We are supporting the family and continue to be in regular contact with them.”

Logan Park High School had been advised to close for two days and “casual contacts” of the student — staff or students who have been more than two metres away and/or have had less than 15 minutes of contact — do not need to self-isolate.

“We are keeping our parent, staff and student community informed and realise this is an anxious time for all concerned.

“They will be able to return to school as usual when the school reopens,” a statement from the Southern District Health Board said.

“Southern DHB public health staff have already started contact tracing to identify individuals who may have come into close contact with the parent and will be working with the school and family to identify any close contacts of the student over the next 24 to 48 hours.”

Medical officer of Health Susan Jack added: “It is most important in these challenging times that we care for and support one another, and continue to play our part in preventing the spread of this illness”.

The school will be carefully cleaned before it reopens.

Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins urged locals to remain calm.

Two confirmed cases of the virus in Dunedin made it a local problem, rather than a national or international issue, Hawkins said.

We . . . realise this is an anxious time for all concerned.

Logan Park High School