Kia ora koutou,
This week the Prime Minister announced that most of the Covid restrictions we have lived with these past couple of years have now been lifted, effective as of 11:59pm, 12 September 2022.
In summary, they are basically these:
- Mask use no longer compulsory except in healthcare and aged care facilities
- If you have Covid-19 yourself, you should still self-isolate for 7 days
- If you are a household contact, you should test everyday but only need to self-isolate if you’re positive
- All government vaccine mandates will end on 26 September.
All the details are available from the Covid-19 government website.
What does this mean for BTI?
We acknowledge that fewer BTI staff and students are getting Covid-19, recognise that this will be mixed news for some, and appreciate that this may increase your anxiety about your vulnerability and those you love. We want to remain mindful of the needs of others.
So, while you’re no longer obliged to, if staff or students want to continue to wear a mask, we will support you to do so.
If you have Covid-19 in your household, even if you yourself don’t have it, we try to be flexible about options of working or studying remotely – contact your course coordinator in the first instance.
We are remaining more cautious than we need to, and doing so in the spirit of care for one another.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Dr Andrew Butcher
Te Taiurungi/Principal