Dr Anna Meuli GP Liaison for Hauora Tairāwhiti provided an update today on the local response to the worrying news that COVID-19 has had a resurgence via a new community cluster in Auckland.
- We are urgently increasing our capacity for testing in Tairāwhiti to make sure the right people get tested as soon as possible.
- If you have any potential COVID-19 symptoms – cough, breathlessness, sore throat, runny nose, loss of taste or smell – we want you to get tested.
- Testing is particularly important if you have travelled out of the region in the last 14 days.
- Please phone your GP, and they will assess you over the phone to check on your health and arrange testing if needed.
- GPs will see you in their practice if required or refer you to a nurse-led swabbing centre.
- The swabbing service will contact you with an appointment. It is not a walk-in service.
- Please be patient as they have had a large volume of requests.
- Swabbing will be available all weekend.
- Make sure you stay at home while awaiting the results of your swab.
- If you must go out – for your appointment or to get food or essential supplies – wear a mask and maintain social distancing.
- If you don’t have any symptoms you don’t need to be tested even if you have travelled out of town.
- If you have specific concerns, please contact Healthline 0800 358 5403 for advice.
- The best thing we can all do now to protect our whānau and community is to wash our hands frequently and maintain physical distancing of 1-2 metres. If this is not possible or if you have symptoms, wear a mask.
- Please download the COVID tracker app and register everywhere you have been.
- If we are unlucky enough to get a case in Tairāwhiti, we must be able to find people quickly that we need to test and contain the virus.