Schools and tertiary provider premises are fully equipped with CookSafe tagging capabilities - precautionary measures for the current Cook Islands Alert Level 2 procedure - in response to the changing scope of the community outbreak of the Covid-19 Delta variant in New Zealand.

Papaaroa Adventist school students Teanahera Walton and Edna Marsters made an effort to try out wearing masks throughout their lessons yesterday, “it’s a bit annoying and it’s hot, but it’s good for us to try these things to keep us safe,” said Walton.

The school’s deputy principal Vaevae Nanai said the CookSafe scanner which assists in tracking the movements of visitors to the school, was set up in the principal’s office in Term 2.

As back up, if the tablet experiences problems, a manual entry form is available for people to fill in.

“All of our classrooms have hand-sanitizing stations that includes mosquito repellents, our bottle pumps were donated by Bank of the Cook Islands (BCI) and this week we received a bulk of masks, disinfectants, handtowels etc from Cook Islands Tourism, a big meitaki from us,” said Nanai.

The Ministry of Education said that “Under Alert Level 2 all our educational facilities remain open; acknowledging that the goal at Level 2 is to remain in operation, but to operate safely, so is the goal for delivering learning at our schools and providers during this time.”

Consideration of the needs of the school communities is very much a high priority for the Ministry. Staff who are unwell are asked to remain at home as it is the best practice for keeping everyone safe so learning can continue, and the same is expected of the students.

The Ministry noted that the schools have been doing a fantastic job with incorporating increased handwashing and hygiene practices into the new learning norms.

“Learning and teaching programmes embed Covid-19 preparedness and alert level concepts across the curriculum which helps to extend the students understanding of the virus and recent announcements, while engaging with the various precautionary measures each day,” said the Ministry.

In supporting the Cook Islands national efforts further, all large scale school events such as school gala or market day events, sporting or cultural events are being postponed.

Visitors to all schools are kindly reminded to tag in, even if it’s a quick drop-off or pick-up opportunity; always keep safe, stay informed, and take care of yourselves and others.