Hauraki students have come up with a hands-on way to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, Covid-19, into the community.
Ben McIntosh and Ewen Wright have developed a hand sanitiser which will be distributed around their school, Hauraki Plains College, in Ngatea.
They have also created a mixture that will be used to wipe down their buses - which transport 95 per cent of the school's students each day.
The approach comes after New Zealand's 12th case of Covid-19 was confirmed, and incidents of "panic buying" saw toilet paper, hand sanitiser and face masks fly off the shelves.
Hauraki Plains College principal Ngaire Harris said students needed to be mindful of the importance of maintaining good hygiene.
"What's coming out is that it's older people who seem to be the most affected, but it's the young people who could well be the carriers."
"So they need to think not just about themselves, but about the impact they could have on an elderly relative, or someone in their home with underlying medical conditions," she said.
"At the end of the day, the students themselves need to take responsibility."
The school has developed more stringent cleaning measures, and will have hand sanitiser available to students and staff.
Harris said around 95 per cent of their students arrive at the college by bus, so deeper cleaning of the hand rails and seats will be performed.
The idea to create a hands-on solution to the sanitiser shortage came when hub administrator Amanda Fitzpatrick went out to buy the product but found it was out of stock.
She located a recipe online and went down to Hammer Hardware, where owner Chris Spilsbury ordered in rubbing alcohol.
That, combined with aloe vera gel or witch hazel, and a few drops of essential oil, make up the ingredients list.
Year 13 students Ben McIntosh and Ewen Wright volunteered to concoct the mixture and wanted students to "not be a chump" and think sensibly to curb the spread of Covid-19.
"There's so many kids here, and you don't know where they've been on the weekends."
Meanwhile, across the district, Paeroa College and Waihī College are also undertaking measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.
A Paeroa College spokesperson told Stuff that the school has cancelled or postponed several events; they have spoken to students and staff in assemblies and staff briefings; they have sent a letter to the homes of families and community members; and have also revised and reviewed their pandemic policy.
Waihī College has upgraded both hygiene and cleaning practices. They have updated their pandemic plan and communicated that to staff; have met with students and explained the importance of keeping themselves safe.
They have also set up an isolation area managed by the school nurse to process and inform students who may be displaying flu like symptoms; they send regular Ministry of Health feedback to staff and parents including links to the MOH website; and are developing online learning programmes in the event that school closures occur.
by Kelley Tantau
0 Comments