The number of active COVID-19 cases in the south continues to track down, and no more cases have been reported today.

There are now just 12 active cases in the Southern District Health Board region. Of the total 216 reported cases, 202 have now recovered. The southern death toll remains at two.

Nationally there were three more cases reported today. One is confirmed case that has links to an existing case, the other two are still under investigation. One case previously classified as probable has now been classified as not a case, which brings the total number of confirmed cases to date to 1129, and probable cases to 347.

Of that total 1476 cases overall, 1241, or 84%, are now considered to have recovered from COVID-19.

The national death toll remains at 19.

Testing remains a focus, with 5867 tests completed nationwide yesterday.

In Southland, workers at the Alliance Group’s Lorneville meat works will be tested tomorrow as part of the Southern DHB’s surveillance activity to try to uncover any undetected disease in the community. Carried out by WellSouth PHO and general practices, the targeted testing is focusing on health care and other essential workers, Māori and Pacific people, and those with a history of international travel.

Medical Officer of Health, Dr Susan Jack, said that widespread testing of asymptomatic people would provide vital information for Southern DHB and Ministry of Health planning.

“We are very grateful to Alliance Group for assisting with this, as they represent a large group of essential workers, as well as a culturally diverse workforce.”

Surveillance testing is voluntary, but people had been happy to be swabbed and do their bit to help stamp out COVID-19, Dr Jack said.

Meanwhile, the Southern District Health Board has confirmed its hospital visitation policy under Alert Level 3.

Effective from 2pm today, patients may nominate one person who will be allowed to visit them in hospital. This person will be allowed to visit once a day, between 2pm and 6pm, and will be screened for COVID-19 and details taken upon entry to the hospital. Visitors must also wash/gel their hands upon entry and exit and adhere to physical distancing of at least one metre.

Other conditions that apply include:

• Anyone visiting a patient who has been admitted with COVID-19, or is suspected to have COVID-19, will first require the approval of either the Charge Nurse Manager or a Senior Clinician.
• Women in labour will be allowed one support person from their extended bubble for the duration of the labour and birth.
• Women staying on the antenatal or postnatal wards may have a once daily visit from their nominated support person.
• In addition to the conditions mentioned above, anyone visiting a mental health patient must first contact the Nurse in Charge to confirm the arrangements for visiting.
• One support person may attend outpatient and radiology clinics in exceptional circumstances. This will be arranged when pre-screening occurs by phone and the time of the outpatient clinic is confirmed.
• Anyone wanting to visit patients in the Critical Care Unit at Southland Hospital must first phone the unit to make arrangements – 03 2181949 extension 48465.

The World Health Organisation's latest situation report puts the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide at 3,018.952, an increase of 66,276 on the previous 24 hours. There have been 207,973 deaths (5376 in the previous 24 hours).