Information on COVID-19
It is not time for us to ease up on our precautions against COVID-19. We’ve been through a lot, and we will get through this too. We’re stronger together.
Protect yourself and others from COVID-19
Stay home if you feel unwell. Isolate wherever you are and call Healthline (0800 358 5453) about a free COVID-19 test. Getting tested will help keep your community safe.
Keep a track of where you’ve been and who you’ve seen. This will help health services to quickly stop any possible spread.
You can download the NZ COVID Tracer app – available from the Apple Store or Google Play – or use the NZ COVID Tracer booklet.
Wear a face covering. Please wear a face covering whenever you are on public transport, including flights. You will be keeping your community safe by covering for each other.
Wash your hands with soap and water often – for at least 20 seconds – and dry thoroughly. This kills the virus by bursting its protective bubble.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow. This will keep the virus off your hands so you won’t spread it to other people and make them sick too.
Regularly clean surfaces that get touched frequently.
Maintain physical distancing. Keep a safe distance from people you don’t know while out and about. This will help minimise spread if community transmission returns.
- Download a Ministry of Health poster on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 [1.8MB PDF]. Available in Te Reo Māori from covid19.govt.nz.
What to do if you feel unwell
Stay home if you’re unwell. Don’t go to work or school. Don’t socialise.
Call your medical practice or Healthline (0800 358 5453) if you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms. This is to check if you fit the criteria and need to get tested for COVID-19.
The symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- a new or worsening cough;
- fever;
- shortness of breath;
- a sore throat;
- sneezing and a runny nose; or
- a temporary loss of smell.
How to get tested for COVID-19
You can be tested for COVID-19 at most general practices, an after hours urgent care facility or a community-based assessment centre (CBAC).
You can attend a community-based assessment centre if your medical practice does not provide testing or if you are not registered with a medical practice team. You do not need an appointment to attend a community based assessment centre.
- Find out where the COVID-19 community testing centres are in the Canterbury DHB region. No on-demand or walk-in COVID-19 testing is being carried out at Christchurch Hospital.
- Find out about COVID-19 community testing centres in the South Canterbury DHB area.
- Find out about COVID-19 community testing centres in the West Coast DHB region.
Testing is free, unless you require a test for travel overseas. You must contact a medical practice if you need a COVID-19 test to travel overseas.
Stay informed from reliable sources about COVID-19
- Get the latest health updates and advice on coronavirus (COVID-19) – Ministry of Health.
- Get help to look after your mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19 (Mental Health Foundation).
- Find out about the Getting Through Together campaign from All Right?.
- Visit your local DHB website for important hospital and health hub information, such as visitor restrictions, parking and shuttle services.
- Visit your local council website for information on their essential services (such as rubbish and recycling collection or public transport) and also about upcoming rates payments.
Local public health response to novel coronavirus COVID-19
Community and Public Health stood up their Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in just two hours in late January 2020 in response to COVID-19 with staff ceasing ‘business as usual’ work. Every effort, hour and individual has been focused on the response since then, and will likely be the last organisation to wind down. Our staff have been involved in the local COVID-19 response in many ‘behind the scenes’ ways across Canterbury, South Canterbury, West Coast and the Chatham Islands.
