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Health Act 1956

Management of infectious diseases - Directions

92L: Direction to close educational institutions

You could also call this:

"When a school might have to close because of a sickness that can spread"

If a medical officer of health thinks someone at a school has an infectious disease, they can take action. You might be told to stay away from school until further notice. The medical officer of health can also tell the school to close part or all of it. The medical officer of health must talk to the person in charge of the school before making any decisions. They must believe that the disease will spread to others at the school and that telling the infected person what to do is not enough to stop it. The medical officer of health may need to send a copy of their decisions to the Director-General if they are asked to do so.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM307452.

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92M: Director-General may require copies of directions given under this Part, or

"The boss of health can ask for reports on orders given to keep people healthy."

Part 3AManagement of infectious diseases
Directions

92LDirection to close educational institutions

  1. This section applies if a medical officer of health believes on reasonable grounds that—

  2. 1 or more persons attending an educational institution have, or may have, an infectious disease; and
    1. there is a substantial risk that the infectious disease will be transmitted to other persons attending the educational institution; and
      1. the risk of the infectious disease being transmitted to other persons attending the educational institution cannot be adequately managed solely by giving directions to the individual with the infectious disease.

        1. The medical officer of health may give a direction to the person in charge of the educational institution to—

        2. direct persons attending the educational institution to stay away from its property until further notice:
          1. close part of the educational institution:
            1. close the entire educational institution.

              1. The medical officer of health must not give a direction under subsection (2) without first consulting the person in charge of the educational institution.

              2. If the Director-General so requires, the medical officer of health must send him or her a copy of all or any of the directions given by the medical officer of health under this section.

              Notes
              • Section 92L: replaced, on , by section 11 of the Health (Protection) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 35).