COVID-19 UPDATES
COVID-19 Health Key Messages – 9 March 2023
This newsletter provides approved key messages from Manatū Hauora - Ministry of Health and Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand on COVID-19, and in this issue, on Meningococcal B and Pertussis. In today's issue: Current COVID-19 case data Pfizer bivalent vaccine Position...
COVID-19 Health Key Messages – 9 February 2023
9 February 2023 This newsletter provides approved key messages from Manatū Hauora - Ministry of Health and Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand on COVID-19, and in this issue, on measles. It may also be helpful for some of you to be aware of phone support available due...
COVID-19 Health Key Messages – 19 January 2023
This newsletter provides approved key messages from Manatū Hauora - Ministry of Health and Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand on COVID-19. In today's issue: Current COVID-19 case data Weekly COVID-19 Trends and Insight report COVID-19 Disability Helpline update Post...
COVID-19 Health Key Messages – 23 December 2022
This newsletter provides approved key messages from Manatū Hauora - Ministry of Health and Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand on COVID-19. The next issue of Health Key Messages will be sent in mid-January. In today's issue: Be prepared on holiday Current COVID-19 case...
How to treat omicron at home
The majority of people who are infected with Omicron experience mild or no symptoms and can safely manage at home. What are the symptoms? A sore throat or a scratchy throat Fever(a temperature above 37.8°C or skin which feels hot to touch). A new, continuous cough....
Omicron Checklist
With Omicron case numbers expected to increase rapidly in the coming weeks, the best thing you can do right now is be prepared. Have a kōrero with your whanau this weekend and make a plan. Unite against COVID-19 have put together a COVID-19 Readiness Checklist. It...
Childhood Immunisation will continue during Traffic Light Level Red
If your tamariki are due for their childhood immunisation, it’s important that they are still immunised on time, even under traffic light level RED. Our Outreach Immunisation Team will take extra precautions when visiting your home. As well as wearing full PPE, they...
We are now operating at Traffic Light Level Red
Under the Covid-19 Protection Framework, we're now operating at traffic light level Red. Our priority is to protect the well-being of our clients and staff members. We ask all visitors to always wear a mask, scan in on arrival, and sanitise your hands. Where possible...
Eastern BOP After-hours Medical Care
If you require medical assistance after-hours, you should: Call your GP - even after hours Healthline is available 24/7 and you will speak to a registered nurse If you are visiting the Eastern Bay of Plenty phone 0800 306 236 If you are in or near Ōpōtiki you can...
Kawerau COVID-19 Testing Station and Vaccination Clinic
This week 17-23 January, the COVID Vaccination Clinic is located at Concert Chambers, 114b Church St, Kawerau. The opening hours are: Monday 17th - 9am to 4pm Wednesday 19th - 9am to 7pm Saturday 22nd - 9am to 4pm The Kawerau testing station is located at the...
Been waiting over three days for your COVID-19 swab results? Call 0800 225 449
If you’ve been waiting longer than three days/72 hours for your COVID-19 swab results there is an 0800 number available for follow-up. The Bay of Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB) Swab Results line, 0800 225 449, was set up originally for those waiting...
COVID-19 Self-Isolation Food and Meal Plan Guide
During lockdown or when self-isolating at home, eating well balanced, healthy, and nutritious meals can often seem to hard and requires too much effort, at a very stressful time! We know that being sick can disrupt your appetite and eating patterns. But it’s really...
New Chair visits WHK Pop-up COVID-19 Testing Centre
New Chair Hamiora Bowkett visited Whakatāne today and witnessed the COVID-19 resurgence team in full swing. Yesterdays announcement of 12 new cases in the BOP region, including one positive case in Eastern Bay of Plenty, located in Waimana, prompted a quick responce...
BOP DHB is not turning away COVID-19 unvaccinated people from its services
The Bay of Plenty District Heath Board has become aware of some misinformation in the Bay of Plenty community, that patients who have not been COVID-19 vaccinated cannot receive treatment at Tauranga and Whakatāne Hospitals. Acting Chief Operating Officer...
Bay of Plenty’s Pasifika community conquers 90 percent fully vaccinated target
The Bay of Plenty’s Pasifika community has risen to the call to protect their aiga (family) and surpassed the 90 percent fully vaccinated milestone. Ninety-one percent of Pacific Island residents in the district are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. More than 95...
Resounding call for Māori in Te Moana ā Toi to get vaccinated
The Board of the Bay of Plenty District Health Board is endorsing the Tikanga Hou released by Te Rūnanga Hauora Māori o te Moana ā Toi, imploring Māori in the district to get vaccinated against COVID-19. “The Board tautoko the call from the Rūnanga for...
Record-breaking Super Saturday a springboard for summer vaccination push
Whakatāne District Council Mayor Judy Turner (right) supporting Super Shot Saturday at the Bay of Plenty DHB’s event in Whakatāne
Ōpōtiki Supersedes Super Saturday Expectations
Over two hundred people received their COVID vaccination at the Ōpōtiki Health Centre on Saturday. It was an outstanding turn out by the community. With some people enticed to participate in the day, thanks to the generosity of Te Pou Oranga O Whakatohea, who...
Mobile COVID vaccinations available
Do you have a rōpū (group) of 30 people or more? Mobile COVID vacciantion services are now available and will visit your marae, workplace, community hall, sports club, or whare and vaccinate you and your rōpū there. If you are interested in this free service, please...
Free Pizza with COVID jab
Everyone loves pizza - especially Kawerau! It was a fantastic turnout by the community on Saturday for their COVID vaccination jab and slice of pizza in the sun. In fact it was so popular, its happening again! When you ask? Raapa - this Wednesday 29th September from...
200,000th dose of COVID-19 vaccine administered in the Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty has reached a significant milestone in its COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The district health board confirmed the administration of its 200,000th dose of the vaccine on 15 September, 2021. “The rollout of the free COVID-19 vaccine offers us the best...
Walk-in COVID Vaccination Clinics
Quay St Whakatāne and Firmin Lodge Kawerau are accepting walk-in patients. As of September 15th there is no need to book and wait, walk into the vaccination clinic and receive your free COVID vaccination today. Vaccinating by age band no longer applies. Anyone aged 12...
Pharmacies deliver COVID vaccine
Edgecumbe Pharmacy has been offering free COVID vaccinations for three weeks and Unichem Total Health since August 26th. "The uptake of the vaccination at Unichem Total Health Pharmacy on The Strand has been fabulous, said pharmacist Becky Li. "Especially because we...
Ōhope open drive-through vaccination centre
Ōhope Beach Medical Centre opened its drive-through vaccination centre on Thursday last week. It is the second Eastern Bay medical practice to do so after Whakatōhea Medical Centre began offering a drive-through vaccination services while in Alert level 4 lockdown....
Child immunisations go mobile during lockdown
Childhood immunisations remain a priority during all COVID-19 Alert Levels and the Eastern Bay of Plenty Public Health Alliance (EBPHA) Outreach Immunisation Service (OIS) team are doing their best to ensure tamariki and pēpi don’t miss out. Many GPs have...
Mentemia resources to support whānau in Level 4 Lockdown
Mentemia have produced a range of valuable resources to help people manage their anxiety and focus on their mental health during lockdown. Thanks to Co-founder John Kirwan, all the Mentemia resources are free and available online or click on the below links:...
How to keep somewhat motivated and productive during Lockdown 2.0
It’s definitely a struggle during lockdown and staying motivated to complete tasks if working from home is difficult but hopefully you can try a few of these tips to increase motivation and productivity during your day. Make a daily routine – whether you are by...
Ōpōtiki opens first BOP drive-thru vaccination clinic
The Ōpōtiki (GP Led) Vaccination Centre opened Bay of Plenty’s first drive-thru vaccination centre at the Medical Hub today, Friday 20th August. Under alert level 4 vaccination centers around the country are trying to manage the extra restrictions and social...
COVID-19 Test Criteria
MOH guidelines for testing People should be tested who have symptoms that meet the clinical criteria for COVID-19 (detailed below). Where people meet the clinical criteria for COVID-19 and also meet the HIS criteria, extra steps (self-isolation and notification) are...
New Zealand is now at Alert Level 4
Recap of current announcements New Zealand has one case of community transmitted COVID-19 in Auckland - this case has been treated as the Delta variant. As this is a more highly transmissible delta variant, a more stringent approach has been taken. The whole of...
EBPHA Clinical Director Awarded Community Service Medal
Dr Rachel Shouler has been awarded a Community Service Medal by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. Dr Shouler is a GP at Tarawera Medical Centre and works as a GP liaison for Bay of Plenty District Health Board and is the Clinical Director at...
Alert level change for Wellington
Recap of current announcements An Australian traveller from Sydney who visited Wellington from Saturday, 19 June to Monday, 21 June has tested positive upon his return to Australia Wellington will move to Alert Level 2 at 6pm on Wednesday, 23 June until 11.59pm on...
Advice on COVID-19 in Australia
NSW exposure sitesNSW Health has issued a public health alert after an individual who had visited a number of locations in southern NSW later returned a positive COVID-19 test on return to Melbourne. Anyone who was at a location of interest and is now in New Zealand...
COVID-19 Vaccine
Everyone in New Zealand, no matter citizenship or visa status, will be offered the vaccine. There will be enough vaccine for the entire population to be vaccinated and no one will miss out. The vaccine is free. Health and safety of COVID-19 vaccine Medsafe only...
Eastern Bay COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
For our Māori and Pasifika Kaumātua and whānau most at risk, call NOW to book in for your COVID vaccination. Whakatāne Call 0800 829 001 Kawerau Call 0800 829 001 Ōpōtiki Call your doctor in Ōpōtiki If you are in Group 3 (people who are at risk of...
Whakatāne COVID-19 Testing Centre
As we head into winter it’s important that anyone with cold or flu symptoms should stay at home and get a COVID-19 test. You should continue to stay at home until you have received a negative test result. Free testing is available at the Whakatāne Community...