A Dunedin rest home now has active COVID-19 cases.

Southern DHB confirmed most of the residents at the aged care facility have now tested positive.

Most have symptoms that are not severe, with most residents remaining relatively ‘well’ despite having the virus, they said.

The DHB has also highlighted that users may experience disruptions, including at hospitals, as the current COVID-19 outbreak continues.

Key Messages from Southern DHB

• Please only get tested if you have symptoms or are a household contact of a confirmed case. We need to ensure those who are symptomatic, or a household contact, get access to testing. 
• If you test positive on a RAT test you do not need to have that confirmed by PCR – you are a case. Please update your My Covid Record with your result. Call 0800 222 478 if you need any support to do this.  
• If you receive a text notification that you are positive, please do the online survey in the link you receive in the text message as soon as possible. This will ensure you can receive the appropriate care and support when you need it. Please be aware that, after filling in your My Covid Record with your positive RAT result, there can be a 24 hour delay before you receive this text message. 
• Make sure you and your family have a plan to self-isolate or care for vulnerable family members in case this is needed. Start to have these conversations now – before you need to have them.  

St John tent to be erected on Dunedin Public Hospital concourse for training exercise 

At 7pm tonight, as part of a planned exercise to manage a surge in patients presenting themselves to Dunedin Hospital, the Dunedin Hospital and St John Ambulance team will deploy a large 5m x 8m tent on the concourse outside Dunedin Hospital’s Emergency Department, just to the left of the ambulance bay. This will temporarily restrict vehicles from being able to drive completely around the concourse. The tent will remain onsite for 24 hours.  

The purpose of this training exercise is to identify any logistical or health and safety issues in the operation of the tent, and to ensure the tent can be effectively deployed if it is required to help manage the anticipated COVID-19 surge in patients presenting themselves at Dunedin Hospital. It will also give the hospital and St John team time to address any issues and run staff through a brief induction process.  

A similar trial will be conducted at Southland Hospital in the next week. 

Disruptions to health services 

The Southern Health system has robust plans in place for a large-scale COVID-19 outbreak. Our hospitals, health system and staff are prepared for many different scenarios as the current outbreak unfolds.  

As we see the number of COVID-19 cases in the community increase, it is not unexpected that our Southern Health workforce will also be directly affected, with some testing positive for COVID-19 or needing to self-isolate. 

Impacts as a result of COVID-19 in our workforce have been planned for. There is currently no impact on services as a result of staff being infected by COVID-19 or having to self-isolate. 

The possibility of disruptions across the Southern health system, including in our hospitals, is a very real possibility going forward in this outbreak. Please know that staff will do their best to keep all services operating. We ask our communities to be patient and to follow the instructions of our staff when accessing health care services. If there are service disruptions affected patients will be notified.  

The Southern DHB and whole health system remains committed to ensuring our health system is resilient and we can continue to provide care to those who need it throughout the COVID-19 pandemic response and beyond.  

Aged residential care facility outbreak  

As COVID-19 has been circulating in our community for several weeks, it is natural that we are now seeing confirmed cases in aged care facilities in our region. 

We can confirm that there is a facility in Dunedin at which the majority of its residents have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Most have symptoms that are not severe, with most residents remaining relatively ‘well’ despite having the virus.  

Facility management have communicated directly with families and with staff regarding this outbreak, and are being supported by SDHB staff. 

We are confident that all possible measures are being taken to protect residents’ health, and that of staff in these facilities. 

We will not be providing further details relating to the location of facilities in order to protect the privacy of residents, staff, and families. 

Be prepared to self-manage your isolation period 

If you or a member of your household tests positive for COVID-19 you will need to isolate for at least 10 days while you recover. Start counting your 10 days from day 0. Day 0 is the day that you got tested. 

During this time, unless you are very sick, you will need to self-manage your isolation as much as possible. This could mean ordering groceries or food online, asking friends and whānau to drop off any medication you may need on the doorstep, and generally looking after yourself like you would if you had the flu or a cold. All while staying at home and isolating until your household has fully recovered from COVID-19.  

There are many supports in place for any household that is isolating. 

If you have any questions about COVID-19, self-isolation, or what you need to do if you test positive, please call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 

If you are self-isolating and require welfare support such as help getting groceries, please call 0800 512 337 This is for everyone, not just people already on a benefit.  

The best way to access the care and support that you and your household need is by filling out the form in the text message you receive after uploading your positive RAT result into your My Covid Record. Please do not delay filling out the form when you received the text message. If you need help uploading your positive RAT result into My Covid Record, call 0800 222 478.  

If you have any questions about COVID-19, self-isolation, or what you need to do if you test positive, please call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 

If you are self-isolating and require well fare support such as help getting groceries, please call 0800 512 337 

The Ministry of Health total figures for Southern for the previous 24 hours are: 

• 582 new positive cases  

• 5550 total active cases   

Due to the increased used use of RATs and system lag issues there may be a discrepancy in the number of total active cases from the territorial authority break down breakdown. 

A decision has been made nationally that areas with less than 5 new cases per 24 hour period will be reported as “<5”. We are unable to supply further information. Please contact the Ministry of Health directly for more information about this decision.  

Testing locations can be found on the WellSouth website. 

If you have any questions about COVID-19, self-isolation, or what you need to do if you test positive, please call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 

If you are self-isolating and require well fare support such as help getting groceries, please call 0800 512 337 

For information specific to COVID-19 in the Southern region and to find your nearest testing centre please call WellSouth on 0800 VIRUS19 (0800 847 8719) 

If you have concerns about COVID-19 symptoms, please call your general practice or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 at any time. If you are very unwell or having breathing difficulties, please call 111 immediately.