Covid-19 Update 20 August 2021
Amohia ake te ora o te iwi,
ka puta ki te whei ao.
– Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatu Te Wherowhero te tuawhitu.
Tō Manaakitanga, e te Atua, ki runga i a Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero te tuawhitu,
huri katoa te whare Kāhui Ariki, rire rire Hau, Pai Marire.
Tō māramatanga hoki, ki runga i a tātou te tangata,
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karanga maha,
Tēnā koutou katoa.
1 – National Situation: As of 3pm, 20th August from COVID-19: Current cases | Ministry of Health NZ
There are 30 national cases, 11 of those are new community cases.
There has been over 2.6 million COVID tests administered.
There were 29917 tests that were administered yesterday
There are over 2.6 Million vaccines doses administered thus far
1677813, are first doses and 963219, second doses.
We do expect this situation to change after the official updates from the Prime Minister.
2 – Local sites of interest
There are now over 170 locations of interest on our website, At least 10 of those are in our Waikato DHB takiwaa. Please check the link. If you or your whānau have been at any of these locations of interest during the relevant time, please self-isolate and call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice on what to do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This is free and you can call any time – it is open all day every day. To find your local testing station, go to healthpoint.co.nz. Their locations are regularly updated.
3 – Where we are testing
Pop up testing sites are operating in Coromandel and Hamilton. These sites are listed below, Please note:
- No appointment is needed,
- Be prepared to wait and do not get out of the car (staff will take a swab through your car window)
- Please be kind to staff
Coromandel – Coromandel Town car park
Off Woollams Avenue, Coromandel Township
9am – 4pm
Tokoroa – Memorial Sportsground
25 Mossop Road, Tokoroa
1pm – 6pm Friday, 10am – 4pm Saturday
Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton
Gate 3, Entrance off Brooklyn Road
Open 8am – 8pm, Thursday 19 August
Founders Theatre car park, Hamilton
Entrance off Norton Road
Open 8am – 4pm, 7 days a week
Please note GP and designated practices are also testing across the region. See below for local addresses and the below link, for details. https://www.waikatodhb.health.nz/your-health/covid-19-in-waikato/cbac/
3 – Where we are vaccinating
Vaccination sites are in operation again in our region. You can check, where and how to receive your vaccine at the Covid 19 site: Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)
Our Māori and Pacific provider Vaccination sites are:
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Waahi Whaanui Huntly Community Vaccination centre 23 Parry Street Huntly
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Turangawaewae Marae Ngaruawahia Community Vaccination centre 29 River Road Ngaruawahia |
Raukura Hauora Hamilton Communty Vacination Centre Nawton Shopping centre Hyde ave, Hamilton |
Te Kōhao Health Kirikiriroa Marae 951 Wairere Drive Kirikiriroa |
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K’aute Pasifika Trust Hamilton Communty Vacination Centre – Pacific 960 Victoria Street Hamilton |
Koi ora Mobile clinic – Te Awamutu |
Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki Covering Thames, Paeroa and Whitinga. Daily updated |
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Hamilton Commuinity Vaccination Centre Waikato Hospital, Ryburn building Ryburn Lane, Hamilton
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Te Awa Vaccination Centre, Te Awa Shopping centre, The Base, level 1 Corner of Te Rapa Rd and Wairere Drive, Hamilton
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Te Awamutu Vaccination Centre 244 Arawata st (former Bunnings site) Te Awamutu
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Thames Vaccination Centre Goldfields Shopping Centre 100 Mary Road, Thames
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4 – How to book a vaccination
You can go ahead book your vaccination through the website, Book My Vaccine | Ministry of Health NZ (covid19.health.nz). You can also call the COVID Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.
Vaccination sites will be operating under Alert Level 4 conditions. Physical distancing requirements at the sites means there might be fewer people vaccinated. If you are aged 40 or over, or you are in Groups 1, 2, or 3, you can book your vaccinations now. You can also book your whānau when you are eligible.
5 – What services are running at the hospital
At Alert Level 4, our Hospital service operations are constantly being updated. We are running a full inpatient operation with little impact, however, our outpatient operations have been affected. At this point it is necessary for us to defer all non-urgent outpatient appointments and elective procedures until further notice. We are contacting all affected individuals directly. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the clinics to discuss.
Those clinics impacted include:
- Surgical services: cancelled elective operations and outpatient clinics.
- Womens and Childrens: Outpatient clinics cancelled
- HBRC are not taking visitors
The rest of the hospital is in operation, in conjunction with level 4 guidelines.
- The emergency department is open for emergencies only.
- The maternity ward is operational with 24hours, 7 days.
Level 4 guidelines include the wearing of masks at all times, QR code contact tracing, limited to nil visiting dependant on ward.
Also note, appointments will still be carried out for:
- Dialysis for renal patients
- Radiology and chemotherapy therapy appointments
Acute and emergency surgeries will still take place
5 – COVID-19: Waikato DHB visitor policy Alert Level 4
Firstly, Thank you for understanding and respecting the current safety requirements. We understand that this is a very sensitive Kaupapa for all our families of current inpatients.
We want to be responsible to you and your family to keep patients, whānau and staff safe, so we need to take these measures.
Only support people or caregivers allowed at this time.
- One support person for patients presenting to the Emergency Department
- One caregiver for child health services
- No children are permitted on the wards
- One Support person in Waikato Hospital Delivery Suite and Thames, Tokoroa and Taumarunui birth units.
A support person can stay with the woman in the postnatal rooms in Thames, Tokoroa and Taumarunui birth units. Due to the layout of the maternity ward and the need for social distancing to keep you, your baby, other patients and staff safe; support people cannot stay/visit the maternity wards in Waikato Hospital.
In some cases, exceptions to this policy will be made on essential and compassionate grounds– for example, for any patient who is critically unwell.
- Any exceptions will be at the discretion of the charge nurse manager and will require prior agreement (by phoning the ward).
- The visitor will undergo screening before they enter to ensure they are well, have clean hands, and are using appropriate personal protective equipment.
We encourage patients and families to use technology where available to maintain contact in these difficult times. For more explanation refer COVID-19: Visitor policy in Alert Level 4 at Waikato DHB » Waikato District Health Board
6 – PPE Supplies:
The Ministry of Health (MoH) have created a centralised process for the supply of PPE to community health providers.
Under this process, MoH will supply community health providers directly from the central reserves. If you haven’t already done so, an account needs to be setup where orders can be placed directly via a website. I have copied in who can assist you setting with up the account. We are able to support you with PPE if it is urgent while you are waiting fo
your MoH order to arrive. The supplies will need to be picked up from our Distribution centre at the Hospital campus in Hamilton.
7 – Nga tikanga Haumaru:
Exerciseng at Alert Level 4: At Alert Level 4 you can exercise in your local area on your own, or with people in your household bubble. Stick to simple outdoor activities and stay close to your home. For example, you can walk the dog, but walk around your block rather than drive to the park. You do not need to wear a face covering when exercising, but we encourage you to take one with you if physical distancing is difficult. Remember physical distancing and make sure you wash your hands before and after exercising. For further information, refer to Sports and recreation | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)
Kia Kaha tonu tātou ki te whai i ngā tikanga haumaru, ki te kainga, ki ā tātou mirumiru hoki.
Wearing masks, hand hygiene, self isolation, social distancing, STAY HOME!!
Whānau can receive more information on COVID-19 and the vaccine from our trusted sources – the Ministry of Health and Unite Against COVID channels.
Mauri ora,
Riki Nia Nia
Executive Director Māori, Equity and Health Improvement