How we are dealing with Covid
Many services are still operating
Is Covid-19 back? We won’t know for sure until Saturday whether the initial four cases identified in South Auckland have been spread further down the country, so to be safe here’s what you need to do.
Keep away from each other, at least 2m and stay close to home when you go out. Do not travel outside the region, unless absolutely necessary. Practise good hygiene and keep track of where you have been. Wear a mask if you can.
If you have symptoms such as a cold, or flu: stay home and arrange with healthline (0800 611 116) or your GP to get tested.
GreyPower’s meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and The Horowhenua New Zealand Trust launch of economic and demographics to be held on Wednesday were both cancelled and others are likely to follow. So was the stargazing event at Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom. At the time of writing this the fate of the Horowhenua/Ka¯ piti club rugby finals is still uncertain for Saturday.
Horizons Regional Council services will continue as normal at alert level 2 with extra care given to physical distancing and contact tracing.
Chief executive Michael McCartney said: “At this stage we are not further activating our emergency coordination centre however we are planning for response should we move to alert level 3 at any point.”
“All our customer service centres remain open at normal hours although we ask that where possible people pay their rates online so we can keep up physical distancing. Our staff will be behind screens and regular sanitising of surfaces will occur.
Public transport services will continue to run as per normal timetables, however with physical distancing in place. We are asking passengers to self-manage physical distancing on the buses by sitting one seat apart and remaining 2 metres away from others while waiting at stops. We ask that people travel outside peak hours if possible.
“Fares will remain in place during alert level 2, and while cash will be accepted we highly recommend using a registered Bee Card as this will assist with contact tracing. There will also be posters going up on buses with a QR code available for contact tracing.
“If possible wear a face mask as per Ministry of Health and government guidelines and of course if you are sick, please do not travel on public transport. For updates on our transport services, please visit our bus notices page.”
McCartney said Horizons will provide further updates should the situation change and recommends keeping an eye on covid19.govt.nz for all of government updates.
The Horowhenua Chronicle Office will allow only two people in at any one time and you must supply personal details, if you do come in.
Following the Government announcement that community transmission of Covid-19 has been detected in Auckland, Horowhenua District Council chief executive David Clapperton said council has been preparing for the possible return of community transmission of Covid-19.
“We have continued to take advice from the Ministry of Health and the National Emergency Management Agency since the pandemic began and have been working behind the scenes to plan ahead,” he said.
“Our staff will carry out contact tracing at all council service centres, libraries and swimming pools, and restrictions will be in place to ensure safe physical distancing.
“All essential council services will continue, and we have continuity plans in place to ensure we can continue to provide these services if the alert level increases.”
Mayor Bernie Wanden said Horowhenua will continue to play its part in the national effort against Covid-19 and encouraged people to heed Government advice to keep themselves and others safe.
“Please keep your distance from others in public and stay at home if you’re sick. If you haven’t yet downloaded the Government’s contact tracing app, please do so and use it to record where you’ve been so the information is ready if it’s needed.”
Te Takere will close at 5.30 on Wednesdays.
A table of council services and facilities at alert level 2 is available on council’s website at www.horowhenua.govt.nz/ covid-19
For further information about the alert levels and the Government response to Covid-19, please visit https:/ /covid19.govt.nz/
MidCentral DHB chief executive Kathryn Cook said people could be confident that the Palmerston North Hospital and other DHB facilities were open and ready for anyone needing healthcare.
“Our hospital and emergency department are essential services and they will remain open to care for our community. If you need care, we are here. We encourage you to still attend appointments, unless you’ve been contacted and informed not to attend, or if you’re feeling unwell.”
Ms Cook said people would be contacted directly if there were any changes to upcoming appointments and procedures but anyone with questions could call 0800 256 963.
Ms Cook said visitors would continue to be welcome, but from midday on Wednesday 12 August some recommendations would be in place at DHB facilities, including Palmerston North Hospital, Horowhenua Health Centre and Te Papaioea Birthing Centre, to ensure safety for patients, visitors and staff.
“In line with the Government’s advice, we recommend that you maintain physical distancing and, if you can, wear a mask or face covering while visiting our facilities. It’s really important that you also continue to uphold high standards of hand hygiene and keep track of where you’ve been by signing in on the Covid Tracer App. Posters are on display in our facilities.
“We ask you to please ensure that you stay home and do not visit us if you are feeling unwell and have any cold or flu-like symptoms.”
MidCentral DHB Medical Officer of Health Dr Robert Weir said if you have symptoms of a cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, or loss of smell, then you need to call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or contact your GP team, who will be able to assess whether you need a test for Covid-19.
Dr Weir said plans were under way to increase capacity for Covid-19 testing across the district, including re-opening the Palmerston North designated testing centre.
Pop-up testing sites were set up at New World Pioneer and the Pasifika Community Centre last week. Together with testing in general practice, 790 people were tested.
All of the test results were negative, Dr Weir said.
For more information on Covid-19, testing and resources in the MidCentral district, please visit our website at https://covid19.mdhb.health. nz/.