Daily Media Update - Tuesday 12 May 2020
No new cases in Southern
The Ministry of Health has announced no new COVID-19 cases in the Southern district today. The region’s total remains 216, with seven active cases, 207 now recovered and two deceased.
In the Southern district it has now been 24 days since a new case was reported.
Dr Susan Jack, Medical Officer of Health, Southern DHB said this, together with the more than 2,500 negative tests of asymptomatic people, was cause for increasing confidence that we are unlikely to have any undetected cases in our district.
However, she strongly urged people to be cautious and proactive with self-care as we head into Alert Level 2.
“If you have any symptoms – even a minor runny nose or cough, please still go and get tested. Testing for COVID-19 is free at your GP or at one of the Community Based Assessment Centres.
“I really encourage people to keep it going and not be tempted to relax their vigilance, so together we can stamp out COVID-19 in Southern,” she said.
Please note confirmed and probable cases are combined, to match Ministry case reporting. For a breakdown by Territorial Authority please visit the Southern Health website:
https://www.southernhealth.nz/sdhbCOVID19/cases-updates
Budget 2020 - health funding announcement
Southern DHB Chief Executive Chris Fleming has welcomed the Government’s budget announcement today of a funding increase for District Health Boards, and additional funding to deliver surgeries and appointments that were delayed by COVID-19.
Mr Fleming said, “This signal that greater investment will be made in the health system is very welcome, and a reflection of the enormous responsibility we have faced as a sector, as well as the significant work that’s needed to recover from the disruption in services caused by COVID-19.
“We look forward to receiving further details about the additional funding, and exploring the opportunities for investing more in our services and increasing our capacity to deliver the much-needed care that has been delayed.”
Public information about services under Level 2
As New Zealand heads into Level 2 on Thursday this week, members of the public, patients and whānau will have questions about the impact on hospital and community health services.
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday afternoon, key Southern DHB staff have been meeting to discuss priorities in preparations for Level 2.
Guidance is being sought from the Ministry of Health and Southern DHB’s Technical Advisory Group over:
- The Visitor’s Policy
- Red and green streaming for treatment of patients
- Screening of patients and visitors in our hospitals
- Physical distancing requirements and how these will affect services.
We are working to provide information to the public as soon as we can but in the meantime please remember that we are still in Alert Level 3 and to continue to work within the rules of this level.
Information about services will be made available to the media, on the Southern Health website, Facebook page and in daily newspapers later this week.
ENDS.