The number of Covid-19 cases in the South has climbed to 15, the Southern District Health Board has confirmed, including two new cases in Dunedin.
Among New Zealand’s 40 new cases today are two Dunedin men who tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Both men were ‘‘mildly unwell’’ and were isolated at home and contact tracing had begun, the SDHB said in its daily update.
With more than 150 confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus in New Zealand, and with the country readying for an unprecedented lockdown from 11.59pm on Wednesday in response to the global pandemic, the SDHB tonight announced a raft of changes to what patients and visitors should expect from healthcare providers.
- If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs)
The Southern DHB confirmed an earlier update from the Ministry of Health today around the two new Dunedin cases, stating one Dunedin man, in his 60s, recently returned from travel to the United Kingdom.
He flew from London to Los Angeles on March 14, and then Los Angeles to Auckland on flight NZ5, and Auckland to Dunedin on flight NZ671 on March 16.
The other Dunedin man, in his 30s, recently returned from Austria, the SDHB said.
He flew from Dubai to Auckland on flight EK447 arriving on March 19, travelling on the same day from Auckland to Dunedin on flight JQ285.
Flights from Dubai to Auckland on March 19, then Auckland to Dunedin, the SDHB lists as a potential ‘‘casual contact’’ alert for members of the public that could not be identified through contact tracing but who were at a low risk of contracting the virus.
Close contacts were asked to self-isolate for 14 days, the health board said, adding both men went into isolation immediately and consequently had a very small number of close contacts.
The SDHB again appealed for everyone to monitor their health and contact the Covid-19 Healthline if they were experiencing: cough, fever or had difficulty breathing.
The updated list from the Ministry of Health, published at 4pm today, shows the number of confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus in New Zealand at 155; four cases are the result of community transmission and 12 patients have recovered from the disease.
There are now 14 confirmed cases and one probable case of Covid-19 known in the South.
There are eight confirmed cases in Dunedin, and one probable case; seven confirmed cases travelled through Dunedin Airport.
While there is only one Queenstown case confirmed at present, four cases travelled through the Queenstown Airport.
And five New Zealand cases are at present linked to the World Herefords Conference in Queenstown.
A Danish woman tested positive for the coronavirus in Queenstown, becoming the first case in the South Island nine days ago.
Of the 142 confirmed cases listed by the ministry, travel details are outstanding for 33 cases.
Travel details are only listed for two of the 13 probable cases.
DENTAL SERVICES
From today only ‘‘essential’’ dental services - for uncontrolled facial swelling, uncontrollable bleeding, facial trauma, and pain that could not be managed by pain killers - was available.
All non-essential SDHB community oral health services for children up to 12 years were closed from today, but the Oral Health Service would maintain two emergency hubs for essential oral health treatment, one in Dunedin and one in Invercargill, the SDHB said.
Telephone triage at the service was available for parents who believed their children needed to be seen: at (Otago) 0800 672 543, and (Southland) 0800 570 300.
In Dunedin, essential dental care for adults would be provided by the School of Dentistry.
In Southland, essential dental care for adults would be provided at Southland Hospital where the same rules of calling first applied.
MATERNITY CARE
From Tuesday, healthy women without pregnancy complications and without Covid-19 exposure were encouraged to receive their maternity care out of hospital, and to talk to their midwives about giving birth at home or in a primary maternity facility.
Pregnant and birthing women who need maternity care and who are affected by Covid-19 would be cared for in the SDHB’s base hospitals in Invercargill and Dunedin, in isolation from other patients.
Visitors to Dunedin Hospital, Southland Hospital and Lakes District Hospital were allowed only to support a woman giving birth - just one nominated person.
Midwives would be provided with personal protective equipment.
CALL TO CHECK COVID-19 WEBSITE
Lakes District Hospital was currently receiving too many Covid-19 related inquiries and people were reminded to seek the most up-to-date information and recommended guidelines dictated by the Ministry of Health from the official Covid-19 website - at https://covid19.govt.nz/ .
A Community-Based Assessment Centre was to be established in Queenstown, but still patients should not self-present, the SDHB said.
Patients with outpatients appointment at Dunedin, Southland or Lakes District Hospital were told to stay at home unless they were phoned and told otherwise.
‘‘We are actively working on plans with regards to outpatients appointments and these will be communicated as soon as we can,’’ the statement said. ‘‘We understand this is a difficult and uncertain time, but please know that we are working through these plans with the safety and wellbeing of our patients, staff and our entire community in mind.’’
Support people for radiology appointments and any other essential outpatient appointments would only be permitted if they are required on compassionate grounds.The SDHB also said it was following national guidance for visitors and announced strict new visitation rules.
Anyone that under self-isolation would not be allowed to visit. Names and contact details of visitors would be recorded in a sign in book at the points of entry.
Visitors with known Covid-19 contact or symptoms would not be granted access to Dunedin and Southland Hospitals and would be directed to CBAC or to contact Healthline or GPs. Visitors with no suspicion of Covid-19 would be able to enter high-risk areas, but only one visitor at a time, for one visit per day.
VISITOR ACCESS RESTRICTED
As Lakes District Hospital only has one ward - and therefore no designated Covid-19 ward - there would be no visitor access unless on compassionate grounds.
No visitors are allowed at Dunedin's Wakari Hospital.
Alternative arrangements would be made for visitors to communicate with patients via telephone/ Facetime/skype or similar.
Latest travel details from Ministry of Health on Tuesday afternoon:
142 - Waitemata 30s F Details to come
141 - New Plymouth 60s F Details to come
140 - Wairarapa 20s F Details to come
139 - Wellington 64 M Details to come
138 -Marlborough 60s M Details to come
137 -Marlborough 30s M Details to come
136 - Auckland 60s F Details to come
135 - Wellington 70s F Details to come
134 - Wellington 70s M Details to come
133 - Wellington 50s M Details to come
132 - Hawke’s Bay 70s F Barcelona via Dubai to Auckland, arrived on 18 March, flight EK448, Auckland to Napier on 19 March – flight NZ5021
131 - Hawke’s Bay 70s M Barcelona via Dubai to Auckland, arrived on 18 March, flight EK448, Auckland to Napier on 19 March – flight NZ5021
130 - Wellington 50s F Details to come
129 - Wellington 30s F Details to come
128 - Wellington 30s M Details to come
127 - Wellington 50s F Details to come
126 - Wellington 60s M Travelled from USA to New Zealand, arrived on 19 March, flight details to come
125 - Wellington 60s F Travelled from USA to New Zealand, arrived on 19 March, flight details to come
124 - Wellington 50s M Details to come
123 - Nelson 80s F Details to come
122 - Auckland 20s M Details to come
121 - Dunedin 30s M Dubai to Auckland, arrived on 19 March – flight EK447, Auckland to Dunedin on 19 March – flight JQ285
120 - Dunedin 60s M London to LA on 14 March, then LA to Auckland on flight NZ5, Auckland to Dunedin on 16 March – flight NZ671
119 - Waikato 50s M No international travel history – exposed at World Herefords Conference in Queenstown
The SDHB again appealed for everyone to monitor their health and contact the Covid-19 Healthline if they were experiencing: cough, fever or had difficulty breathing.
