June 17, 2009
Media Release (For Immediate Release)

Library’s Temporary Closure A Precaution

Waitakere City Council temporarily closed its Ranui library this morning, as a precautionary measure, following an outbreak of swine-flu.

Yesterday the nearby Ranui Primary school was shut following a number of confirmed cases. Several students visited the library, which raised concerns about possible transmission.

Council spokesperson Wally Thomas says the Council did not want to be alarmist, but took a conservative approach and decided to close the library until advice from Ministry of Health was received.

“The library is a gathering place and focal point for the Ranui community, so we thought it best to close it until we had more information,” he says. “We also wanted to ensure that library staff were not being unduly put at risk.”

This morning the Council was told by the Ministry that the library could remain open.

Mr Thomas says the Council responded in line with its comprehensive “Pandemic Response Plan”, first developed during the SARS and bird-flu scares several years ago.

It will continue to monitor the situation.

For further information on the swine-flu go to: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf

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