Under pressure: Covid-19 cases rising
Pressure is being put on an already stretched health system in South Canterbury, as Covid-19 case numbers rise, with extra beds needed at Timaru Hospital.
Yesterday, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand South Canterbury interim district director Jason Power confirmed there were now 15 cases in hospital, and two more people had died with Covid-19 in South Canterbury in the past week.
That brings the total number of deaths in the region, with Covid, to 25. ‘‘In the past week we are sadly reporting two deaths in the South Canterbury district,’’ Power said.
‘‘Our thoughts and condolences are with their whā nau and friends at this sad time. Out of respect, we will be making no further comment.’’
The organisation now releases Covid numbers for the region weekly and yesterday’s update shows there are now 732 active cases in South Canterbury – up from 579 last Friday.
When asked how Timaru Hospital was coping with 15 cases, Power said its response plan for managing the pandemic included the ability to increase the number of beds, as and when needed, for Covid positive patients.
‘‘We have seen the need for this [beds increasing] over the past few days,’’ he said.
In October 2021, the then South Canterbury District Health Board told The Timaru Herald it had eight intensive care beds and eight ventilators at the hospital to cope with Covid patients.
The number of cases in hospital with Covid, as well as the ‘‘high number’’ of positive cases in the community in the past week, meant the hospital was under ‘‘significant pressure’’, Power said. ‘‘Our teams have done an outstanding job, given the continued high occupancy levels in Timaru Hospital.’’
Of yesterday’s cases, 76 are in the Timaru district, 10 in the Waimate district, and six in the Mackenzie district.
This brings the total number of active cases in the Timaru district to 572, 110 in the Waimate district, 48 in the Mackenzie district and two from unknown locations.
The total number of cases recovered in the region this year is now 17,523.
Vaccination teams will be at the Waimate Rugby Clubrooms on Thursday, from 10am to 4pm, and Talbot Park, in Otipua Rd, Timaru, from 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Wednesday, to administer free flu jabs for tamariki aged 3-12, pregnant women, people aged 65-plus and Mā ori and Pacific peoples aged 55-64.
Free MMR vaccines for people born on or after January 1, 1969, who have had only one recorded dose, and free Covid vaccines for those aged 5-plus, and first and second boosters, will also be available.