News and notices Pānui

Bay of Plenty COVID-19 Update 27 November

27 November 2021

Today we are reporting four new cases today in Bay of Plenty. All four have been linked to previously confirmed cases.

One case is based in Kawerau, one is in Tauranga and two are in Te Puke. The person based in Kawerau is a close contact of a previously confirmed case and has been in isolation for the past week.

Investigations are continuing and while public health staff don’t expect a large number of locations of interest as a result, if and when they’re identified, they will be added to the health.govt.nz. This is updated regularly.

This takes the region’s totals to 41.

Bay of Plenty DHB is opening a pop-up testing site from tomorrow at Waitaha Hauora/Nga Kakano Family Health Services at the Sikh Temple in Te Puke.

The DHB has also been working with local providers in Kawerau to provide more testing capacity for the town. Additional testing is available today until 6pm and again from 10 until 6 tomorrow at the Te Puna Ora o Mataatua, Ron Hardie Recreation Centre carpark in Kawerau.

Two of the three other cases are also close contacts of previously confirmed cases and have been in isolation. 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 dose of the vaccine if you haven’t already.

Testing centres

100 1st Avenue drive-through (accessed via carpark next to Noel Leeming on 2nd Ave) Tauranga	8am-4.30pm (5 days Mon-Fri)
BayPark 81 Truman Lane, Mount Maunganui	11am-6.30pm (7 Days Mon-Sun)
Tauranga Racecourse	10am-4pm (Sat)
Waitaha Hauora/Nga Kakano Family Health Services, Sikh Temple, 26 No. 3 Road, TePuke	10am-4pm (Sun)
Poutiri Trust Drive-through Testing Atuaroa Ave, Te Puke	10am-3pm (7 days Mon-Sun)
War Memorial Hall Whakatāne	10am-4pm (Fri, Sat, Sun)
Te Puna Ora o Mataatua, 52B King Street, Whakatāne	10am-6pm (Fri-Sat) &  10am-4pm (Sun)
Te Puna Ora o Mataatua, Ron Hardie Recreation Centre carpark Kawerau.	2.30–6pm (Sat) & 10am–6pm (Sun)

Further information on testing in the region will be updated here on this website Facebook page 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.