Working to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Community and Public Health stood up their response to COVID-19 in just two hours in late January 2020 with staff ceasing ‘business as usual’ work. Every effort, hour and individual was focused on this response until September 2022. Staff were involved in the local COVID-19 response in many ‘behind the scenes’ ways across Canterbury, South Canterbury, West Coast and the Chatham Islands.
Currently Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health is focussed on minimising the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities.
Get the latest information on COVID-19
The Unite Against COVID-19 website provides the latest news and health information for the public about COVID-19, including:
- What symptoms you need to look out for;
- What to do if you test positive for COVID-19;
- How to report your RAT result;
- Free COVID-19 healthcare available for eligible people;
- Getting antiviral medicines to treat COVID-19;
- How to protect yourself and others from COVID-19;
- Wearing face masks to help prevent getting or spreading COVID-19; and
- How to get emotional and mental wellbeing support.
Te Whatu Ora publishes the latest COVID-19 case numbers – updated weekly.
Te Whatu Ora has COVID-19 information for health professionals and other sectors of the community.
You can call the dedicated COVID-19 Healthline for health advice, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 358 5453.
Translation services are available in over 40 languages, and there is the option to use NZ Relay Services.
COVID care to focus on providing antiviral medicine and vaccination
Te Whatu Ora media release: 28th September 2023
Providing antiviral medicine for COVID-19 to eligible people will become the key focus of primary and community pharmacy care from 1st October 2023. This will ensure people most at risk of serious outcomes from the virus receive the support they need.
The continued support with a focus on antiviral medicine reflects the transition to managing COVID-19 in the same way as other acute respiratory conditions.
Antiviral medicine will be available in both primary care and community pharmacy for those who meet Pharmac’s access criteria. This supports free access for those at higher risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19, including hospitalisation.
Emphasis is also being placed on the importance of people staying up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccinations.
“Having the latest COVID-19 vaccination or booster will help protect those most at risk from serious illness,” says Dr William Rainger, National Public Health Service, Te Whatu Ora.
“We also recommend anyone testing positive using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), to stay at home and isolate for 5 days and report the result through My Covid Record.
“They should also wear a mask if they need to leave isolation for any reason, and not visit a healthcare location – except to access medical care – or where there may be people at higher risk. While no longer mandated, isolating and mask wearing remain important in preventing the spread of COVID-19, as well as other respiratory illnesses.
“We are encouraging people to ask their doctor, pharmacist or hauora provider if they think they, or someone in their whānau, may be eligible for free antiviral medicines.”
People can get a prescription for antivirals from their doctor or hauora provider, and many pharmacies can supply antiviral medicine without a prescription.
New COVID-19 variant detected in Aotearoa New Zealand
Ministry of Health media release: 21st September 2023
The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) has detected the COVID-19 subvariant BA.2.86 (known as Pirola) in Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time in wastewater samples taken earlier this month.
The subvariant was first detected in late July in Denmark and Israel, and cases have been slowly increasing globally. It has not yet been detected in New Zealand in any people hospitalised with COVID-19.
BA.2.86 has been deemed a ‘variant under monitoring’ by the World Health Organization. However, there are no indications at this stage it is substantially more severe or infectious than other subvariants circulating in our communities.
Manatū Hauora – the Ministry of Health and ESR are carrying out surveillance on this and other subvariants and closely monitoring developments here and overseas, as well as emerging international evidence.
Preliminary evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccines available in New Zealand remain effective against BA.2.86.
The detection of BA.2.86 is a good reminder that COVID-19 has not gone away so please continue to test if you’re symptomatic and stay home if you’re sick.
Learn about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters
The best way to protect yourself, your kaumātua and whānau is to get vaccinated.
Everyone in New Zealand aged 5 or over can get a free COVID-19 vaccination. It does not matter what your visa or citizenship status is.
Children aged 6 months to 4 years can get a paediatric vaccine if they are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Talk with your family doctor or other health professional if you have concerns about having the COVID-19 vaccine.
You can also call the COVID Vaccination Healthline for information on COVID vaccines and boosters, 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week on 0800 28 29 26.
The Unite Against COVID-19 website has the latest information about COVID-19 vaccines, including:
- Getting a COVID-19 vaccine including the different types available;
- Getting a booster jab; and
- Possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines.
You can check when you are due for a booster on My COVID Record or on your purple COVID-19 Vaccine appointment card – if you have one.
Read or download resources on the COVID-19 vaccine – available in numerous languages and for those with learning difficulties (Ministry of Health).
Booking and getting your COVID-19 vaccine
You can book COVID vaccinations online from Book My Vaccine.
You can also call the national COVID Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 8pm 7 days a week) and make a booking over the phone. A carer or relative can book a vaccination on your behalf. Translation services are also available if you need them.
Get information about COVID-19 vaccination for disabled people, such as accessible clinics and arranging transport.
You can get your COVID-19 vaccination at:
- Your general practice – appointments for enrolled patients only;
- Your local pharmacy;
- A vaccination clinic – an appointment is required; or
- A walk-in vaccination centre – no appointment required.
Documents
- Guidance for organisers planning an event in COVID-19 times (Te Pūnaha Matatini).
- Supporting wellbeing after a crisis: Summary report (Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission 2023).
- Protecting and promoting mental wellbeing: Beyond COVID-19 (Koi Tū 2020).
Response to COVID-19
- New Zealand COVID-19 elimination strategy and mortality patterns (The Lancet 2023).
- Aotearoa New Zealand Strategic Framework for Managing COVID-19 (Ministry of Health 2023).
- Testing Plan for COVID-19 in Aotearoa New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora 2023).
- 2021 COVID-19 Māori Health Protection Plan: December 2022 Monitoring Report (Ministry of Health 2023).
- 2021 COVID-19 Māori Health Protection Plan: May 2022 Monitoring Report (Ministry of Health 2022).
- COVID-19 Māori Health Protection Plan (Ministry of Health 2021).
- COVID-19 Māori Vaccine and Immunisation Plan (Ministry of Health 2021).
- COVID-19 Psychosocial and Mental Wellbeing Plan: Revised December 2020 (Ministry of Health).
- New Zealand Aotearoa Pandemic Response Policy for Aged Residential Care (Ministry of Health 2020).
COVID-19 research
- COVID-19 Risk Among Disabled People (Ministry of Health 2023).
- A window on quality 2022: COVID-19 and impacts on our broader health system – Part 2 (Health Quality and Safety Commission NZ 2022).
- COVID-19 Variants of Concern framework summary (Ministry of Health 2022).
- COVID-19 Mortality in Aotearoa New Zealand: Inequities in Risk (Ministry of Health 2022).
- COVID-19 Delta variant Response Rapid Review (Ministry of Health 2022).
- A window on quality 2021: COVID-19 and impacts on our broader health system – Part 1 (Health Quality and Safety Commission NZ 2021).
- Bula Sautu – A window on quality 2021: Pacific health in the year of COVID-19 (Healthy Quality and Safety Commission 2021).
- COVID-19 disruptions to hospital and general practice activity (Ministry of Health 2020).
- COVID-19 in Health Care and Support Workers in Aotearoa New Zealand (Ministry of Health 2020).
Impacts of COVID-19 in the community
- COVID-19 and safety in the home: Summary report (Te Hiringa Mahara | Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission 2023). Also available in Te Reo.
- Impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of rural communities in Aotearoa New Zealand: Summary report (Te Hiringa Mahara | Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission 2023). Also available in Te Reo.
- Ngā Kawekawe o Mate Korona: Impacts of COVID-19 in Aotearoa (Health Services Research Centre at Victoria University of Wellington 2023).
- Impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of older people in Aotearoa New Zealand: Summary report (Te Hiringa Mahara | Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission 2022). Also available in Te Reo.
- Media reporting of COVID-19 and mental health and wellbeing: Summary report (Te Hiringa Mahara | Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission 2022). Also available in Te Reo.
- Life during Lockdown: Findings from the Growing Up in New Zealand COVID-19 Wellbeing Survey – Part 1 Health and Wellbeing (Ministry of Social Development 2021).
- A fair economic future? Impacts of COVID-19 (Royal Society Te Apārangi 2021).
- Social, psychosocial and employment impacts of COVID-19 in New Zealand: Insights from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study 2020/2021 (Ministry of Social Development 2021).
- Getting it right: Children’s rights in the COVID-19 response (Children’s Convention Monitoring Group 2021).
- Racism and Xenophobia Experiences in Aotearoa New Zealand during COVID-19: A focus on Chinese and Asian communities (Human Rights Commission 2021).
- Life in lockdown: Children and young people’s views on the nationwide COVID-19 level 3 and 4 lockdown between March and May 2020 (Office of the Children’s Commissioner 2020).
- Alone Together: The risks of loneliness in Aotearoa New Zealand following COVID-19 and how public policy can help (Helen Clark Foundation 2020).
Contact the Communicable Disease staff at your local office for further information:
CANTERBURY AND CHATHAM ISLANDS
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
SOUTH CANTERBURY
Ph: +64 3 687 2600
WEST COAST
Ph: +64 3 768 1160
Support tools for those with Long COVID
ME Support has developed a Long COVID online support tool. It is also useful for people with other post-viral illnesses as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
You also sign up to the Long COVID Registry Aotearoa New Zealand.
Canterbury | Waitaha and Mid Canterbury
- Find a RAT collection site (HealthPoint).
- Find a COVID-19 community testing centre (HealthPoint).
- Find a COVID vaccine clinic near you (HealthPoint).
- Find clinics offering COVID-19 vaccines to tamariki (HealthPoint).
South Canterbury
- Find a RAT collection site (HealthPoint).
- Find a COVID-19 community testing centre (HealthPoint).
- Find a COVID vaccine clinic near you (HealthPoint).
- Find clinics offering COVID-19 vaccine to tamariki (HealthPoint).
West Coast | Te Tai o Poutini
- Find a RAT collection site (HealthPoint).
- Find a COVID-19 community testing centre (HealthPoint).
- Find a COVID-19 vaccination clinic (HealthPoint).
- Find clinics offering COVID-19 vaccines to tamariki (HealthPoint).
Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands Health Centre provides the following services:
- COVID-19 Testing – to enrolled and casual patients; and
- COVID-19 vaccination for adults and children including boosters – for enrolled patients only.
Call 03 3050 035 for more information and to make your vaccination appointment.