SAE AUCKLAND COVID-19 UPDATES
COVID UPDATE: 24 August 2023
Kia ora SAE staff and students,
Last week, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced that all remaining COVID restrictions will be lifted. This includes any isolation requirements, as well as the need to wear masks at health care facilities. For SAE Auckland, this means we are now following the general Ministry of Health guidance for managing COVID. This includes:
- Stay home if you are feeling unwell.
- Keep up with vaccinations and boosters to help reduce the chance of serious illness and lower the risk of spreading COVID to others.
- Keep up healthy habits such as hand hygiene and coughing/sneezing into your elbow.
- While mask wearing is no longer required in any settings, it remains an important way we can prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. You are welcome to wear a mask on campus, particularly in confined spaces such as our studio environments.
- If you have tested positive for COVID-19, it is recommended that you isolate for 5 days. If you do need to leave the house, you should wear a mask. Please do not come to campus if you are COVID positive – rather, let your Course Coordinator or Student Support know and we can excuse you from class. You should only return to campus when you are no longer symptomatic.
In general, we want to minimise the chance of spreading COVID on campus. So please be mindful of others and stay away if you are unwell with COVID, or indeed any cold or flu. We will continue to stock COVID RAT tests and face masks at reception should you ever need them.
Finally, I’d like to take this moment to reflect briefly on the past 4 years. Since Feb 2020, I have quite literally written over 100 COVID related comms to staff and students. It is possible that this is my final COVID related communication to you all.
While I recognise that the disruptions of COVID have been tough, facing it together has also brought out the best in us. On reflection, I am reminded of the aroha and kindness that I saw across our SAE community. I am both grateful for and impressed by the attitude, resilience and commitment that you showed throughout. And I truly believe that treating others with consideration and respect are lessons that you will carry long into the years ahead. Thank you for treating each other so well and helping to ensure that SAE remained a safe and enjoyable place to be in what has possible been the most challenging years of our lives. I am so proud to be part of such a remarkable group of creative people who were so committed to the care and wellbeing of all. Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa. Ka nui te aroha e te SAE whānau.
Noho ora mai,
Suzette
Dr Suzette Major
Campus Director, SAE Auckland