Southern Covid-19 hospitalisations remained high yesterday, as the number of new daily cases in Otago and Southland dropped below 400 for the first time since late June.
There were 43 people in hospital across the region yesterday who had Covid-19, a number high enough to stretch the resources at Dunedin and Southland Hospitals, but still a drop from the 52 cases which were in hospital on Friday.
There were 4238 new cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand yesterday, 339 of which were in the South.
That figure was the lowest daily case total in the region since June 26, when 356 cases were recorded, and followed 475 new cases being reported on Saturday.
The rolling seven-day average of new cases for the South was 574; a week ago it was 752.
Active cases in Otago and Southland dropped to 4002 yesterday; a week ago there were almost 5000 active cases in the South.
While case numbers are continuing to drop from a peak of 1045 on July 19, hospitalisation rates remain high and in previous outbreaks have peaked two to three weeks following a cases peak.
A Te Whatu Ora Southern spokeswoman said people should only go to hospital emergency departments for genuine emergencies, but stressed that anyone who felt they needed medical help should ask for it.
"Do not wait till you are very unwell to ask for help . . . if you or a loved one needs to see a healthcare professional know that southern health teams are here to help you," she said.
