News and notices Pānui
Bay of Plenty COVID-19 Update 28 November
28 November 2021
Today the Ministry of Health has reported four new cases in the Bay of Plenty region. One case is based in the Whakatāne district , three are in the Tauranga area.
The Whakātane district case and one of the Tauranga cases are linked to previously reported cases. The remaining two Tauranga area cases are household contacts, with their links to previously reported cases still being investigated.
All four cases are self-isolating at home.
This takes the region’s total to 48.
Investigations are still continuing into all cases and locations of interest, if and when they’re identified. Check the health.govt.nz | locations of interest for updates and follow the advice provided. This is updated regularly.
Public health staff want to reiterate the message to Bay of Plenty locals to get tested if you’re feeling unwell and get your first and second dose of the vaccine if you haven’t already.
Today's numbers
There were 144 new cases of COVID-19 in the New Zealand community yesterday; Auckland (127), Northland (2) Waikato (9), Bay of Plenty (4), Hawke’s Bay (1).
Of the current community cases across Aotearoa, 82 are in hospital, average age of current hospitalisations: 48 years old.
There are 9 in ICU or HDU (8 in Auckland, 1 in Lakes).
Booster shots for COVID-19 available from Monday 29 November
Booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be available through any community vaccination sites. For a list of walk-in clinics you can find these at healthpoint.co.nz or covid19.govt.nz.
BOP COVID-19 testing locations
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100 1st Avenue drive-through (accessed via carpark next to Noel Leeming on 2nd Ave) Tauranga |
8am-4.30pm (5 days Mon-Fri) |
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BayPark 81 Truman Lane, Mount Maunganui |
11am-6.30pm (7 Days Mon-Sun) |
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Tauranga Racecourse |
10am-4pm (Sat) |
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Waitaha Hauora/Nga Kakano Family Health Services, Sikh Temple, 26 No. 3 Road, TePuke |
10am-4pm (Sun) |
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Poutiri Trust Drive-through Testing |
10am-3pm (7 days Mon-Sun) |
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War Memorial Hall Whakatāne |
10am-4pm (Fri, Sat, Sun) |
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Te Puna Ora o Mataatua, 52B King Street, Whakatāne |
10am-6pm (Fri-Sat) & 10am-4pm (Sun) |
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Te Puna Ora o Mataatua, Ron Hardie Recreation Centre carpark Kawerau. |
2.30pm–6pm (Sat) |
Further information on testing in the region will be updated here on this website or check healthpoint.co.nz.
The spread of COVID-19 in the Bay of Plenty is another reminder to get tested if you’re feeling unwell and get your first dos,e of the vaccine if you haven’t already.
Please monitor symptoms and please do not visit patients in hospital if you are unwell.
If you have symptoms, please call HealthLine 0800 358 5453 and get tested.
Further information is available on the Ministry of Health’s website, including other location of interest. Go to the health.govt.nz and click on the ‘Locations of Interest” tab.
If the caller is a staff member and the above does not answer their question, then refer them to 021 222 9045.
Coming into Tauranga or Whakatāne Hospital?
Entry is only through the front entrances and you will be asked to sign in using the COVID-19 QR Code or fill in a tracing form.
Who can visit patients and when?
We will be screening all people coming into the hospital.
To keep hospital staff and patients safe there are some visitor access restrictions to Tauranga and Whakatāne hospitals at Alert Level 2. These are as follows:
- Visitor hours 8am- 8pm
- All visitors to be health screened at the main entrance to ensure they are well
- All visitors are asked to wear a mask or face covering
- All visitors to scan in or fill in contact tracing forms
- High Risk areas
- ED, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) /Coronary Care Unit (CCU) High Dependency Unit (HDU) / Acute Care Unit (ACU) / Mental Health & Addiction Services, Aged Care one (1) approved visitor per patient per day.
- Maternity
- Labour and birth - one (1) nominated support persons
- Following birth, one (1) nominated support person at a time may visit once daily and stay as long as the woman wants
- Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) - Mothers and one nominated support person per day (same person each day and not at the same time as the mother)
- Two parents or guardians may visit their child in hospital
- All other hospital areas – one visitor at a time per patient, and a maximum of two visitors per day.
- Clinical Nurse Managers, Clinical Midwife Managers or Duty Nurse Managers will consider additional requests on a case-by-case basis for compassionate reasons. They will consult with Te Par󠅍e ō Toi regarding Pou Kōkiri support for whānau.
Are you experiencing COVID-19 symptoms?
Stay at home if you are feeling unwell and, if you are experiencing symptoms, please contact your GP or call Healthline 0800 358 5453. Both are available for healthcare advice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you are calling your GP afterhours your call will also be answered by a Registered Nurse.
Symptoms include:
- a new or worsening cough
- a fever of at least 38°C
- shortness of breath
- sore throat
- sneezing and runny nose
- temporary loss of smell.
These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have COVID-19. The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as colds and flu. Shortness of breath is a sign of possible pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention.