A second rest home in the Southern district has a COVID-19 related death.

The Southern DHB has advised many aged care facilities in the district are now recording COVID-19 infections amongst their staff. Some residents have also become infected.

All facilities have now tightened their protocols for visitors.

There are currently 12,159 active COVID-19 cases in the Southern district. 12 active cases are in hospital, 8 in Dunedin and 4 in Southland. No patients with COVID-19 are currently in ICU/HDU or are being ventilated.

The Southern DHB has also now arranged a number of supported isolation quarantine (SIQ) facilities throughout the district. These are available for active cases or close contacts who, for a number of reasons, are unable to isolate in their own homes.

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, option 3, if you need any support to do this. This service is available from 8am – 8pm daily.  
• 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.  

Visiting loved ones in aged residential care facilities 

As the Omicron outbreak spreads in the Southern district many aged residential care facilities are having staff test positive and some are finding COVID-19 infection amongst residents.  

All aged residential care facilities who have staff and/or residents affected by COVID-19 have contacted family, whānau and loved ones of their respective residents to inform them of what is happening in their facilities. 

Some aged residential care facilities have closed to visitors in the short term as a precaution to protect their vulnerable residents. If you have a loved one in an aged residential care facility and are unsure if you can visit them, please phone the facility in question. All staff at these facilities are putting the care and safety of their residents at the forefront of all that they do. They will be more than happy to speak to you and advise you of any safety measures they have put in place. 

People who are able to visit loved ones at an aged residential care facility are likely to find the following precautions in place: 

• Strict enforcement of surgical-grade mask wearing at all times  

• Strict enforcement of hand hygiene measures 

• Physical distancing being observed 

Individual care facilities may have further visiting rules in place. Please check with the facility before visiting.  

People wanting to visit loved ones are also asked not to if they are feeling unwell, have cold or flu-like symptoms, are household or close contacts of a positive case, or have tested positive themselves and are still in their isolation period. 

The Southern DHB and Public Health South continue to support aged residential care facilities throughout the Southern district. 

Supported Isolation Quarantine (SIQ) facilities in the Southern district 

The Southern DHB has supported isolation quarantine facilities in several locations throughout the district.  

This accommodation is available for people and their whānau who have tested positive or been exposed to COVID-19, and who for various reasons are unable to isolate in their own homes. For example, they may be living with people who have underlying health conditions and are at higher risk from COVID-19.  

As case numbers rise in the coming weeks, we expect to begin using one of our larger SIQ facilities; Aaron Lodge in Bradford, Dunedin.  

We are committed to the safety of all SIQ guests and neighbours. SIQ residents will not be allowed visitors, and they will not be permitted to come and go from the facility. There will be dedicated people on site who will ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the SIQ facility and it will be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

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 welfare 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.