Te Whatu Ora Southern COVID-19 Update 22 July 2022

Key Messages  

• Make sure you and your household prepare and have a plan ready for if you are required to isolate at home. More information about creating a plan and getting prepared is available here. 
   

• You can be infected with COVID-19 more than once. Many people throughout Southern and Aotearoa are now discovering this. Please be vigilant when out in the community and wear a mask, practise good hand hygiene and physical distancing where appropriate.   
   

• It is not too late to get your COVID-19 booster. Apart from mask wearing, a COVID-19 booster dose is your best form of defence against severe COVID-19 infection. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for the body to build full protection against COVID-19, so the time to act is now.  
   

• It is now more important than ever to wear a mask when out in public. Wearing a mask is the easiest way you can protect yourself, your whānau, and the vulnerable members of your community from getting COVID-19.  
   

Family and whānau support – does your family have a plan?   

If a member of your family gets diagnosed with COVID-19, are you ready and prepared to isolate at home for 7 days or more? If a vulnerable member of your family needs in-home support and due to staff sickness there isn't anyone available to care for them, do you have a plan in place to support them for a few days?   

Now is the time to have these discussions with your family, whānau, friends and support networks. Don't wait till you or someone you care about is unwell or requiring immediate support. Talk with your community, support workers, family and neighbours now.   

Together we can all help each other to stay safe, healthy and supported in our communities.  

“Unless you are very sick, you will need to self-manage your isolation as much as possible,” says Dr Virginia McLaughlin, Public Health Physician. “This could mean ordering groceries or food online, asking friends and whānau to drop off any medication you may need on the doorstep, and generally looking after yourself like you would if you had the flu or a cold - all while staying at home and isolating until your household has recovered from COVID-19.” 

For more information about preparing and staying safe please visit the Unite against COVID-19 website: Prepare and stay safe | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)  

If you have any questions about COVID-19, self isolation, or what you need to do if you test positive, please call Healthline on 0800 358 5453  

If you are self isolating and require well fare support such as help getting groceries or medication, please call 0800 512 337. This service is for everyone in need, not only people already on a benefit. 

The best way to access the care and support that you and your household need is by filling out the form in the text message you receive after uploading your positive RAT result into your My Covid Record. Please do not delay filling out the form when you received the text message. If you need help uploading your positive RAT result into My Covid Record, call 0800 222 478  

Hospitalisation figures  

Current hospitalisations as at 9am 22 July 2022   

Please note that hospitalisation data does not differentiate between patients admitted because of COVID-19 infection versus those admitted for a separate reason who happen to also have COVID-19 (incidental COVID-19 infection).  

The Ministry of Health total figures for Southern for the previous 24 hours are:  

• 770 new positive cases   

• 5610 (not recovered from last 7 days)   

Current cases as of 11.59pm 21 July 2022   

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. Due to the increased use of RATs and system lag issues there may be a discrepancy in the number of total active cases from the territorial authority breakdown.  

A decision has been made nationally that areas with less than 5 new cases per 24-hour period will be reported as “<5”. All territorial authorities with less than 100 cases will have their case numbers rounded to the nearest 5. We are unable to supply further information. Please contact the Ministry of Health directly for more information about these decisions.   

Testing locations and hours of operation can be found on the WellSouth website.   

If you have any questions about COVID-19, self-isolation, or what you need to do if you test positive, please call Healthline on 0800 358 5453.  

If you are self-isolating and require welfare support such as help getting groceries, please call 0800 512 337 Monday-Friday 8am-6pm and Saturday/Sunday/Public Holidays 8am-1pm.  

For help accessing COVID-19 testing in the Southern region and to find your nearest testing center please call the WellSouth call center on 0800 VIRUS19 (0800 847 8719).   

If you have concerns about COVID-19 symptoms, please call your general practice or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 at any time. If you are very unwell or having breathing difficulties, please call 111 immediately.