Southern DHB Media Update - Thursday 26 August 2021
SWABBING – Attributable Dr Michael Butchard, Medical Officer of Health, Southern
Today more than 230 COVID-19 tests were taken by WellSouth staff and general practices around the district*.
After high testing numbers during the first week of lockdown, demand for testing in Southern appears to be falling. Most testing in our region is of symptomatic non-contacts. Thanks to WellSouth, general practices and Southern Community Laboratories, we have been able to meet demand throughout this outbreak. We would like to thank all those who have come forward for testing. By doing so you are helping keep yourself, whānau and community safe
General practices and WellSouth have increased testing capacity to ensure that everyone who needs a test can access testing. There is the ability in the system to scale up and add capacity – including Community Based Testing Centres or pop up testing sites - within hours.
Anyone in Southern who has cold or flu symptoms should call 0800 VIRUS-19 (0800 847 8719) to arrange a COVID-19 test. People need to wear a mask when leaving the house, maintain social distancing, good hand hygiene and to use the COVID-19 tracer app.
*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.
VACCINATION* – Attributable Hamish Brown, Southern COVID-19 vaccine programme lead
To date, the Southern vaccine programme has delivered 232,071 doses, 76,705 of which have been second doses. Across the district, 52.1% of the eligible population have receivedat least one dose; 26% of have received two doses.
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 and over;
- 82.2% of those aged 60-64;
- 78.8% of those aged 55-59;
- 74% of those aged 50-54:
- 67% of those aged 40-49;
- 44.7% of those aged 30-39.
*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 (Thursday 26 August) we have around 100 close contacts in Southern, which is a small minority of those people who have been tested in our region.
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.