Secretary of Health, Bob Williams is extremely grateful for the way the community reacted yesterday to the various requests that were asked of them.
“A total of 267 people were tested for COVID-19 yesterday. This number included the 84 passengers who arrived on Friday afternoon, their household members, front-line workers, along with a few others who had been in close contact with some returnees. All have returned negative test results, which is great news.”
“Also encouraging news is the confirmation from New Zealand this morning that there is a direct chain of transmission between the latest community case and an earlier family.”
Today Te Marae Ora will contact all the 135 passengers who arrived last week offering further advice and information. Those who arrived on Friday are required to continue to self-isolate until they receive a negative result from their day 6 test. Should anyone in self-isolation require medical attention or advice, the Te Marae Ora Mobile Health Team can be contacted on 53547 or 53860.
Those people who are self-isolating with any of the returnees off Friday’s flight and who require a letter from Te Marae Ora for their workplace confirming they are required to stay home, please contact either Dr May 55965, Dr Uka 55588, or Dr Puni on 53860 and a letter will be sent to you.
Friends and family who are supporting those in self-isolation are asked, if that haven’t already, to organise a dedicated drop-off spot for food and provisions and to avoid making physical contact at all times. Should you require surgical masks or gloves to assist in the delivery of provisions, please call the Primary Care Charge Nurse on 80865 or the Public Health Charge Nurse on 50241.
“Our Public Health office at Te Marae Ora will be open today from 8am-4pm. If there are people who attended the recent family services or burial and have any health concerns, please call Te Marae Ora on 20065 or 20066 for some advice. We are asking those who attended these events to observe public health measures, and to contact us if you have any symptoms like a cough, sore throat, are short of breath, have a loss of smell, muscle aches and fatigue” said Mr Williams.
Restaurants, cafes, shops, bakeries, takeaway outlets, and in-house bars who intend to open today are asked to observe physical distancing practices – you should keep at least 2 metres away from people in public places and in stores, and 1 metre in controlled environments, like at work or school.
Those attending Church services today will also be asked to physically distance (keep 2 metres apart), to refrain from singing and to observe public health measures.
Schools will be open as usual tomorrow, but any students who returned on Friday or who are living in the same home as a returnee who is self-isolating, will be required to remain at home until further advice is provided by Te Marae Ora.
“This is probably a good time to remind us all of the public health measures our medical people want us to adopt in our everyday lives” Mr William noted.
- Avoid touching, kissing, and shaking hands, and reduce your time spent in crowded spaces or among crowds.
- Wash your hands with soap and water, regularly. Hand hygiene is a good way of protecting against general infection.
- If washing your hands with soap and water is not an option, use hand sanitiser. If you do not have sanitiser, try to avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cough and sneeze into your elbow, sleeve, or jacket. Covering your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing helps prevent the spread of most infections too.
“Incorporating these public health measures into our daily lives will help prevent the spread of all sorts or bugs and virus’s and lead to better health for us all,” Mr Williams noted.
ENDS: Enquiries to Jaewynn McKay +682 55486