Where to get help and information

Get tested immediately if you have symptoms
While the risk of COVID-19 in the Southern district is now low, it is imperative that anyone with any symptoms gets tested immediately. You are not over-reacting, you will be helping keep yourself, your whānau and your community safe. You should stay at home until the result of your test is available. If the test is positive, you must stay in isolation until declared recovered by Public Health South, and your immediate close contacts should also self-isolate.

The lockdown and increased handwashing has led to an unexpectedly low flu season. However, opening of schools and workplaces could see flu symptoms start to rise. That’s why we need to practise physical distancing (2 metres with strangers, 1 metre with their workmates), good hand hygiene and cough/sneeze etiquette.

Where to get tested for COVID-19

• 0800 VIRUS19 call centre continues to operate
• COVID-19 testing available through general practice

Community-based assessment centres, created to provide safe and accessible testing for COVID-19, are now closed.

Testing for COVID-19 continues to be available free-of-charge at most general practices, some of which are designated practices – practices prepared to test unenrolled patients or those not wanting or unable to go to their own GP.

Weekends

At the weekends, testing will be provided by appointment at the WellSouth offices in Invercargill and at Dunedin Urgent Doctors.

WellSouth’s 0800 VIRUS19 (0800 847 8719) call centre continues to operate, providing assessment and referring patients for testing when required. Hours are 08.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday and 8.30am to 12noon at the weekends.

COVID-19 Testing: Where to get help

For COVID19 testing in the Southern region, call your general practice team in the first instance or free call 0800 VIRUS19 (0800 847 8719)

The call centre is open Mon – Fri 8.30am – 4.30pm, Sat – Sun 8.30 am – 12noon

(Please note, CBACs, general practices and designated practices are not walk-in clinics and patients should call to be referred first.)

For health advice, please call Healthline free on 0800 611 116

Designated Practices

Designated practices are general practices that accept their own patients and patients who either are not enrolled in a local general practice or don’t want to go to their usual GP. People looking for an appointment with a designated practice, should contact the
0800 VIRUS19 call centre:

Designated Practices in Southern:

-       Alexandra Family Medical
-       Aspiring Medical Centre/ (Wanaka)
-       Cromwell Medical Centre
-       Dunedin Urgent Doctors
-       Fiordland Medical Centre (Te Anau)
-       Health Central Ltd (Alexandra)
-       He Puna Waiora Wellness Centre (Invercargill)
-       Invercargill Medical Centre
-       Junction Health (Cromwell/Central Otago)
-       Kurow Medical (Kurow/Waitaki)
-       Mosgiel Health Centre (Mosgiel/Taieri)
-       Mornington Health Centre (Dunedin)
-       Otautau Medical Centre
-       Queenstown Medical Centre
-       Queens Park General Practice (Invercargill)
-       South City Health Centre (Invercargill) 
-       Te Kāika (Dunedin)
-       Wakatipu Medical Centre
-       Wanaka Medical Centre

General Practices Testing for COVID-19

A number of general practices in the region are providing their usual care as well as testing for COVID-19. If you are enrolled with one of these practices this might be the right place for you to be tested. Call your own practice first.

 -      Albany Street Medical Centre
-       Alexandra Family Medical
-       Amity Health Centre
-       Aurora Health Centre
-       Bester McKay Family Doctors
-       Bluff Community Medical Trust
-       Broadway Medical Centre
-       Catherine Street Medical Centre
-       Catlins Medical Centre
-       Caversham Medical Centre
-       Central Medical Oamaru
-       Clutha Health First
-       Clutha Health First General Practice
-       Cromwell Family Practice
-       Cromwell Medical Centre
-       Doctors Adam & Cleveland
-       Dr Johri’s Practice
-       Dunedin North Medical Centre
-       Dunedin South Medical Centre
-       East Otago Health
-       Gardens Medical Centre
-       Gordon Road Medical Centre
-       Gore Health Centre
-       Gore Medical Centre
-       Green Island Family Health Care
-       Green Island Medical Centre
-       Harbour Health (Port Chalmers)
-       HealthCentral Ltd.
-       Helensburgh Medical Centre
-       Invercargill Medical Centre
-       Lawrence Medical Centre
-       Lumsden Medical Centre
-       Maori Hill Clinic
-       Mataura Medical Centre
-       Milton Health Centre
-       Mornington Health Centre
-       Musselburgh Medical Centre
-       North End Health Centre
-       Oamaru Doctors
-       Otautau Health Centre
-       Pitt Street Medical
-       Queens Park General Practice