Clean Air In Schools Needs Government Action
'Tamariki at our ECEs and schools should be playing and learning, not bringing home disease and spreading it to their families and across the wider community,' says ACA spokesperson Tara Forde.
'Too many educators and children are getting sick and there are no benefits from repeatedly getting Covid.
'We know preventative actions like increasing ventilation are proven to reduce transmission of respiratory viruses like COVID, reduce sick days and increase productivity.
'I'm a working parent, and I am dreading the coming winter. It can't just be on each family to hope for the best.
'If this Government is serious about increasing school attendance, they need to do more to protect the health of students and educators," says Forde.
Aotearoa Covid Action is calling for:
Ensuring each school and ECE can monitor air quality
Supplying technology to clean the air and reduce viral load
Granting access to all New Zealanders 6 months and older, to up-to-date vaccines, regular boosters and antivirals
Reintroducing free Rapid Antigen Tests
Providing extra sick leave for teachers; school support staff, including teacher aides; and caregivers
Recognising Long Covid as an occupational hazard for teachers
Recognising and better supporting children, teachers, and school support staff, including teacher aides, with Long Covid, through more research into its effects, diagnosis, and treatment.
Organisations in support include: NZEI, PPTA, Disability Person's Assembly, Long Covid Kids, Long Covid Support Aotearoa, ANZMES, Complex Chronic Illness Support, ActionStation, 350 Aotearoa, and the Air Quality Collective. Medical professionals in support include: Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Dr Michael Baker, Dr Gary Payinda, Dr John D Potter, Dr Siouxsie Wiles, Dr Ed Hyde, Dr David Galler, Dr Matire Harwood, and Dr Stuart Ekdahl.
The open letter can now be signed by all individuals at ActionStation Clean Air in Schools petition: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/clean-air-in-schools
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