Daily Media Update - 5 May 2020
No new cases in Southern
The Ministry of Health has announced no new COVID-19 cases in the Southern district today, for the seventeenth consecutive day. The region’s total remains 216, with nine active cases, 205 now recovered and two deceased.
Please note confirmed and probable cases are combined, to match Ministry case reporting. For a breakdown by Territorial Authority please visit the Southern Health website:
https://www.southernhealth.nz/sdhbCOVID19/cases-updates
Update on surveillance testing in Southern
Altogether 12,519 tests for COVID-19 have been carried out for 11,554 people in the Southern district. Of these, over 1,500 have been surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals. All of the surveillance testing results received so far (to 4 May) have been negative.
Dr Susan Jack, Medical Officer of Health, Southern, says the surveillance testing was requested by the Ministry of Health and is part of Southern DHB’s activity to try to uncover any undetected disease in the community. Carried out by WellSouth PHO and general practices, it includes targeted testing focusing on health care and other essential workers, Māori and Pacific people, and those with a history of international travel.
Testing of health care workers has included asymptomatic staff in Dunedin, Southland, Dunstan and Gore Hospitals who have worked in areas that provided care for COVID positive patients. This testing commenced 30 April 2020 and we aim to complete it by 7May 2020. Community Based Assessment Centre and General Practice staff are also being tested. 343 results have been processed to date.
Last week we announced that Alliance Group employees in Southland and Otago will be tested for COVID-19 as part of continued voluntary surveillance testing of asymptomatic people throughout the community. On Friday we tested employees at Alliance’s Lorneville plant near Invercargill, and this week are testing employees at the Pukeuri plant outside of Oamaru.
Members of the Pasifika community were tested today in Oamaru.
Testing has also been undertaken at Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki marae in Otago, Murihiku marae in Invercargill and Te Rau Aroha marae in Bluff.
In addition, 343 people were tested at a Queenstown supermarket, and 246 people at Queenstown hostel accommodation.
Widespread testing of asymptomatic people provides vital information for Southern DHB and Ministry of Health planning and advice about moving down alert levels. We are grateful to the teams from WellSouth and general practice for their efforts in carrying out this important work.
ENDS.