Daily Media Update - Tuesday 28 April 2020

No new cases in Southern

The Ministry of Health has announced no new COVID-19 cases in the Southern district today, for the tenth consecutive day. The region’s total remains 216, with 14 active cases, 200 now recovered and two deceased.

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

No positive results in further Queenstown testing

Over 240 residents in hostel and backpacker accommodation in Queenstown were tested for COVID-19 over the ANZAC weekend, with no positive cases reported.

This surveillance testing, carried out by WellSouth PHO, focused on people with a history of international travel who were not displaying any symptoms.

It follows the testing of 343 asymptomatic people at a Queenstown supermarket the previous week, which also did not find any cases of COVID-19.

Southern DHB Medical Officer of Health Dr Susan Jack said the testing helped build further confidence there has not been widespread undetected community transmission in the town, which had higher numbers of cases earlier in the outbreak, particularly connected to international travel.

“The feedback I’ve had is that everyone was very supportive of the team’s efforts and appreciative of the opportunity to be tested.

“It’s now been ten days since the last case was reported in the district, and two weeks since the last person in our district first developed symptoms of the illness. I have been cautiously optimistic we have stamped out the disease in our community; now I am increasingly optimistic. I sincerely thank everyone in the community for the part they have played.

“But we know how quickly everything can change from just one case that might slip through, so I urge everyone to maintain the precautions required in Alert Level 3 to ensure we can continue to build on these good results.”

COVID-19 Testing 

General practices and Community Based Assessment Centres across the district continue to offer assessment and testing for COVID-19 for patients meeting the case definition.

However, COVID-19 tests are not required for healthy staff returning to work at Alert Level 3. This is the case even if a worker has previously been a COVID-19 case, as Public Health South has closely monitored people who have had COVID-19 and has advised them if they are able to return to work.

Staff should continue to work from home if they can and vulnerable employees are to continue working from home wherever possible.

As is always the case, if staff are unwell, they should stay home from work.

Public urged to seek medical assistance

As we move from Level 4 to Level 3, Southern DHB and WellSouth are reminding the public to seek medical assistance if they need it.

“We understand that some people with concerns about COVID-19 may have delayed seeking treatment under Level 4 lockdown.  It’s important that people do not neglect potentially serious health conditions - delaying treatment can cause them to worsen and even require hospital treatment,” says Southern DHB Chief Medical Officer, Dr Nigel Millar.

The public are urged to seek medical treatment by calling their GP clinic or Healthline 0800 611 116 in the first instance. If it’s an emergency they should call 111.

Essential preventative health care continues and, under Alert Level 3, routine national breast and cervical screening programmes will begin to resume for eligible patients. Influenza vaccines are also available and patients – particularly those over 65 or with pre-existing health conditions – should contact their general practice about getting vaccinated.

WellSouth Medical Director, Dr Stephen Graham says GP clinics may be working differently in the interest of patient and staff safety, but general practices are open, and they want to support their patients the best way possible.  

“If you would normally contact your doctor, you should contact your doctor,” says Dr Graham.  

“Everyone will receive the care they need. Patients may be offered a virtual consult, by phone or in some cases by video, but if patients need to be seen in-person, by their general practice team, they’ll be seen.”

Hospital Emergency Departments are open and people are urged not to put off going to the Emergency Department in an emergency.

“Under Level 3, all patients who enter our hospitals will still be asked questions to determine whether they could have COVID-19, and if there are symptoms that could be COVID-19 then they will be cared for in a special area until this is further clarified, so as to keep everyone safe,” says Dr Millar.

“The Southern health system is open and we’re here to care for our community. The message is please don’t delay seeking medical treatment,” says Dr Millar and Dr Graham.

ENDS.