WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
1 WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Fever, coughing and difficulty breathing are the main symptoms and may show within 2-10 days of being infected. The virus is spread by droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. It can also be transmitted by contact with an object or surface with viral particles on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
2 WHAT SHOULD I DO TO STAY SAFE?
Basic hygiene measures are the most important way to stop the spread of infection. These include regularly washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or cleansing with hand sanitiser; avoiding close contact with people with flu-like illnesses; staying at home if you are sick; coughing or sneezing into a tissue or your elbow and then washing your hands; and cleaning surfaces regularly.
3 SHOULD I WEAR A MASK?
For most people in the community, face masks are not recommended.
However, for those with an acute respiratory infection, the World
Health Organisation says there may be benefit in wearing a face mask to reduce the spread of infection to others.
Generally, masks can prevent droplets spreading from an infected patient and others inhaling droplets if they are within 1m of a coughing individual. If people are unwell or have a job which requires them to be in close contact with people who may have Covid-19, face masks are recommended. However, the Ministry of Health says basic hand hygiene and cough/sneeze etiquette will have a bigger impact.
4 WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM SICK AND SUSPECT I MAY HAVE CORONAVIRUS?
Phone Healthline’s Covid-19 number 0800 358 5453 (or +64 9 358
5453 for international SIM) or phone your GP for advice. The most concern is for people who have just arrived or transited through mainland China or Iran, or have been in close contact with someone confirmed with Covid-19, in the past 14 days. These people should self-isolate for 14 days and phone Healthline to register. People who have visited Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand and who have developed a fever, cough or shortness of breath are also asked to seek medical advice through Healthline or by phoning their GP.
5 WHAT IS NEW ZEALAND DOING NOW?
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there was no need for New Zealanders to panic following the first confirmed case, with the country “well prepared”. Health officials are now tracing contacts, quarantining and monitoring people in contact with the person who tested positive. A pandemic plan has been in place since January, which includes border restrictions still in place for people travelling from China, and now Iran.