Daily Media update - Thursday 30 April 2020
No new cases in Southern
The Ministry of Health has announced no new COVID-19 cases in the Southern district today, for the twelfth consecutive day. The region’s total remains 216, with 12 active cases, 202 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
Community testing to include COVID-19 Alliance Group employees
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.
It follows the testing of 343 people at a Queenstown supermarket, and more targeted testing of 243 people at Queenstown hostel accommodation, and 37 at Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki marae over the past weeks. All of the results so far have been negative, and it is hoped that the same will occur with this further community testing in Southland and Otago.
The testing is part of 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, says that widespread testing of asymptomatic people provides 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.
“Indeed, the support from all groups being tested, as well as the outstanding team of testers at WellSouth and from our general practices who are undertaking this important work around the district, is greatly appreciated.
“Our surveillance testing is voluntary but people are happy to be swabbed and do their bit to help stamp out COVID-19.”
“The negative results we are seeing suggests that our Alert Level 4 lockdown has helped us avoid widespread community transmission in our region,” Dr Jack says.
“WellSouth and its COVID testing team have been working hard to support public health to complete this vital community surveillance,” says WellSouth medical director Dr Stephen Graham. “I would also like to thank the people stepping up to offer to be tested to help ensure we identify any community transmission early.”
David Surveyor, chief executive of Alliance Group, says the co-operative wants to play its part in the fight against COVID-19.
“Keeping our people safe is paramount. We have introduced unprecedented precautions in our plants to prevent the spread of COVID-19 including physical distancing and we are proud of the way our people have stepped up in these tough times in the best interests of the country.
“We welcome this opportunity to help protect the health of the Southland community and contribute to a better understanding of COVID-19.”
The testing will take place at Alliance’s Lorneville plant near Invercargill tomorrow and at the Pukeuri plant outside of Oamaru next week.
For further information, please contact:
Southern DHB queries: Senior Communications Officer Vanessa Barratt, 020 4166 2019, vanessa.barratt@southerndhb.govt.nz
Alliance Group queries: Sam Halstead, 0274 746 065, sam@latitudesc.co.nz