SDHB COVID-19 Daily Update 21 Feb 2022

We have implemented this daily COVID-19 media release to update case numbers and inform the media and public of the situation across the Southern region.

Please note, the Ministry of Health’s daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO. 

Key Messages 

• Dunedin and Queenstown have widespread COVID-19 infections in the community. If you are out in these communities, please be extra vigilant.  
• If you receive a text notification that you are positive, please do the online survey in the link you receive in the text message as soon as possible. This will ensure you can receive the appropriate care and support.  
• Please only go to get tested if you have symptoms or are a close contact and have been advised to get a test.  
• Hospital visiting in our facilities across the district are now limited – please check the Southern Health website for details.  

Close contacts 
As of 1pm Monday 21 February there are 239 close contacts isolating throughout the Southern district. 70 of these are in the Queenstown-Lakes district and 157 are in Dunedin.  

Reducing your exposure to COVID-19  
Now that we have COVID-19 circulating throughout the Southern community, we are all at risk of being exposed. At all times practice good hygiene, especially when you are socialising.  Get your booster, wear your mask, wash your hands, and keep physically distant from others. These actions will slow the spread and help flatten the curve. If you develop cold or flu like symptoms, please isolate and get tested for COVID-19 immediately. 

Change to hospital visiting hours 
From Monday 21 February all hospitals in the Southern district will have a change in visiting hours. 

These hours will be: 2pm – 6pm, 7 days a week  

Please plan to visit your family, whānau and friends within this timeframe. 

Moving to digital notifications 
As New Zealand moves into phase 2 of our COVID-19 response we are collectively moving towards digital solutions to contact tracing and self-isolation. Text message notifications to inform someone they have been identified as a case started last week. If you receive a text message, then please click on the link provided and fill your information into the form. This will put you into the system used by the Southern district and New Zealand, for monitoring and follow up. Please fill in this form as soon as possible because it will ensure you get timely help to access the care and support you need. Best of all, the data used is free. 

If you are identified as a case, you can find all the information you need here.

Individual case enquiries by media 
For privacy reasons, the SDHB does not share personal information about people who have tested positive for COVID-19 unless there are compelling public health reasons to do so. This includes the number of close contacts associated with exposure events, specific locations, households, and communities. 

Testing 
If you have symptoms or have been at a location of interest and have been advised to get tested, please get tested and stay home until you receive a negative test result. Otherwise, you do not need to get tested. It is important that we ensure people who are symptomatic or have been asked to get tested are able to do so. 

Due to our district’s geography, transporting swabs to the appropriate laboratory for testing may take some time – please be patient in waiting for your results. 

Testing locations can be found on the WellSouth website.   

Key media contacts 

• For questions about COVID-19 case numbers and vaccination, contact SDHB: communications@southerndhb.govt.nz  
• For questions about COVID-19 testing and case monitoring in the community, contact WellSouth: communications@wellsouth.org.nz   

Media enquiries:
Southern District Health Board Communications  
communications@southerndhb.govt.nz  

ENDS