Southern DHB Media Update - Friday 27 August 2021

SWABBING – Attributable Dr Michael Butchard, Medical Officer of Health, Southern

Today more than 260 COVID-19 tests were taken by WellSouth staff and general practices around the district*.

*Please note testing data is preliminary and may vary from final data published by the Ministry of Health.  It reflects recorded tests until 3pm.  These figures are liable to change as testing continues during the late afternoon/evening.

Staff returning to work

During the COVID outbreak, we are asking employers not to require staff to have a COVID test before coming to work. They will not be eligible for a test unless they have been at a location of interest at a relevant time, or have COVID symptoms. 

Across the health system, an enormous number of tests are being processed and it is important our laboratories can focus on individuals at higher risk of having COVID-19.

If an employee who has no symptoms, has been to Auckland or Wellington but not to a location of interest, they do not need a test.

VACCINATION* – Attributable Hamish Brown, Southern COVID-19 vaccine programme lead

The Southern COVID-19 vaccination programme has delivered 241,231 doses of the vaccine to date, 50,000 of which were delivered in the last seven days. Across the district, 54.4% of the eligible population have received one dose and 27.1% have received two doses.

Final figures from yesterday showed over 9,300 vaccines were administered across the Southern district, the highest volume to date in the rollout, and close to 3 per cent of the eligible population in the district.

This is thanks to a tremendous effort from over 100 providers across the district, including pharmacies, general practices, Māori and Pasifika health providers, the staff at the DHB’s vaccination clinics in Invercargill and Dunedin – and of course a tremendous response from the public. Thank you all for playing your part to keep the community safe.

The following is a break down by age group of those who have received a vaccine or are currently booked:

• 85.7% of those aged 65+
• 83.2% of those aged 60-65
• 79.5% of those aged 55-60
• 75% of those aged 50-55
• 68.5% of those aged 40-50
• 52.2% of those aged 30-40

With the increasing availability of walk/drive in clinics, it is possible some people are taking the opportunity to be vaccinated, despite already having made an appointment elsewhere. We ask anyone in this situation to please remember to cancel their other appointment. This helps us know where there are available appointments across the district and ensure others don't miss out on the chance to get vaccinated sooner. You can change or cancel your appointments by going to bookmyvaccine.nz or by calling 0800 28 29 26.

*Please note these vaccination figures are indicative only and reflect vaccination numbers up to 4pm daily. These figures are liable to change as vaccination centres continue to vaccinate people during the late afternoon/evening.

CONTACT TRACING – Attributable Dr Michael Butchard, Medical Officer of Health, Southern

As of today (Friday 27 August) we have over 120 close contacts in Southern.

Southern’s close contacts are at different stages of their 14 day isolation period, and are first tested on the day they identify themselves, then on Day 5 and Day 12. Some are now nearing the end of that time.

Identification of Southern close contacts relies on those people calling HealthLine to get put into the national investigation and tracing system if they were at a location of interest at the time of a COVID case.

We strongly encourage all people who know they were at a location of interest to call HealthLine as soon as possible and follow the guidance given.

Meanwhile, Public Health South’s team of contact tracers is contributing to the national response by managing more than 760 contacts across New Zealand.

HOSPITAL REQUIREMENTS

We are in Alert Level 4 until 11.59pm Tuesday, and Alert Level 3 from Wednesday.

Health care is an essential service, so alert levels 3 and 4 are very similar for us.

• Urgent procedures, including cancer care, are continuing. 
• Some non-urgent (elective) surgeries and non-urgent face to face appointments have been postponed. Some patients will be offered a phone or video call instead of coming into hospital. 
• Patients are unable to have visitors, except on compassionate grounds. 
• All visitors must wear a mask. 
• Patients who are attending appointments at hospital are asked to arrive early, to allow time for screening for flu-like symptoms. 

Southern hospital are reminding the community that, while there remains a need to screen people entering our hospitals, it is really important that they arrive on time to allow our clinics to run efficiently. People arriving late have caused a few headaches for our screening staff, and has a flow on effect on the running of clinics.  Please help out our hospital staff and other patients by arriving on time.

NEXT UPDATE

The next Southern DHB Media Update will be produced on Monday 30 August. Have a good weekend.  -  Southern DHB Communications Team.