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 New Zealand has moved into Alert Level 4 on 11:59 pm Tuesday 17th August for three days, apart from Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula that will be at Alert Level 4 for seven days
No links have been established to the border or MIQ yet and the variant is yet to be confirmed.
Alert Level 4
As a reminder, Alert Level 4 means that:
- People instructed to stay at home in their bubble other than for essential personal movement
- Safe recreational activity is allowed in your local area
- All gatherings cancelled and all public venues closed
- Businesses will be closed except for essential services (e.g. supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics) and lifeline utilities
What does this mean for me?
You are now required to follow the government guidelines and stay at home.
If you have been in the Auckland or Coromandel Peninsula region in the past seven days, you are required to check the Ministry of Health website for locations of interest. There are 23 locations of interest – 13 in the Coromandel region and 10 in Auckland.
If you have been in these locations of interest you are required to follow the isolation and testing rules as advised by the government.
Feel unwell
If you feel unwell, please contact your GP or Healthline on 0800 358 5453.
Healthline or your doctor will tell you what you need to do if you need to be tested and when you need to be tested. Some health care centres may ask you to wait in your car or a waiting area.
If you choose to visit a community testing station, remember to be kind to the staff. They’re working as quickly and as carefully as they can.
The Whakatāne Testing centre is located at 52B King Street, it is the portacom outside Med Central (behind Adamson’s pharmacy, entry via James Street). It is open from 8.30am to 5pm.
If you need someone to talk to
If you need to talk, free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor. They’re available day and night.
Other places that can help you if you need someone to talk to:
Depression helpline: Free call 0800 111 757 or text 8681
Alcohol Drug Helpline: Free call 0800 787 797 or text 8681
Gambling Helpline: Free call 0800 654 655 or text 8006
OUTLine: Free call 0800 688 5463 (OUTLINE) – confidential telephone support for people in the rainbow community, available evenings from 6pm–9pm.
Anxiety Helpline: free call 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)