An Otago student is isolating after allegedly breaching lockdown by travelling from Auckland to Dunedin without an exemption.
Otago Boys' High School Photo: Google Maps
The Otago Boys' High School confirmed the student travelled to Dunedin last Friday, staying with whānau over the weekend and spent Sunday night in their hostel, School House.
He then arrived at school for first period on Monday.
School rector Richard Hall emailed parents to reassure them.
In the email, he said the school was advised the student may not have travelled with an exemption by 9am on Monday morning.
"Enquires are being undertaken by the relevant agencies to establish how he was able to travel. We immediately implemented our isolation policy for the student, and organised a Covid-19 test, the results of which, we have had back this morning and they are negative," Hall said.
"The student is isolating away from the school and hostel. He will not return to either the school or the hostel until we have confirmation from the Ministry of Health that it is safe for him to do so."
The school has sought advice from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education as well as police.
"The information we have is that the student is currently seen as 'low risk' as he is not presenting any symptoms and is not understood to have visited any places of interest in the Auckland or Waikato region."
Advice from the Ministry of Health was that the school and hostel could continue to run as they have been under level 2 protocols, he said.
"Maintaining learning momentum is important this close to the end of term.
"We understand that this news may be of concern to you. Please be assured that the health of our school community is very important to us and we will be following all protocols."
Hall asked for the privacy of the student to be respected and for any parents or students who needed support to contact the school.