News and Notices

NMH COVID-19 Update: 21 May 2020

Posted 4 years ago

This update provides information about confirmed cases in the Nelson Marlborough region, community-based assessment centre (CBAC) data and any new information for our communities.

Please go to the main COVID-19 website for information about the CBACs, contact tracing, hospital planning and more: https://www.nmdhb.govt.nz/covid-19

 

1. Total confirmed cases in the Nelson Marlborough region

The total number of confirmed and probable cases remains the same since the last case was announced on 30 April in Nelson.

LOCATION

CONFIRMED CASES

PROBABLE CASES

Nelson

23

5

Marlborough

14

7

TOTALS

37

12

All cases are thought to be travel-related and there is no strong evidence of a community outbreak in the region

2. Recovery rates

The number of people who have recovered from COVID-19 is now 48, meaning that there is one remaining case who is being monitored and supported by the Nelson Marlborough Public Health Service.

The recovery rate is a subset of the total number of confirmed cases. The Ministry of Health defines a recovered case as: At least 10 days have passed since they first had symptoms of COVID-19, and they have had no symptoms for at least 48 hours.

Like most countries, we don't usually test again to make sure, because the test result shows whether or not they have remnants of the virus, not whether or not they can infect other people.

3. Community-based assessment centre (CBAC) data

Running total CBAC data, by location

 

NELSON

BLENHEIM

MOTUEKA

GOLDEN BAY

24 MARCH to 19 MAY

Assessed: 3011

Assessed: 1243

Assessed: 764

 

Tested: 2460

Tested: 1017

Tested: 546

13 APRIL to 19 MAY

 

 

 

Assessed: 112

Tested: 100

Please note:

  1. From 8 May, Blenheim CBAC data includes asymptomatic testing. All other data is for symptomatic testing only.
  2. This data does not include testing conducted by GPs in healthcare centres (clinics), in people’s homes or by clinicians in hospitals.

4. How to get assessed and tested over the Queen’s Birthday weekend: 30 May to 1 June

The Tahunanui, Toi Toi, Motueka and Blenheim community-based assessment centres (CBACs) will be closed over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, but if it’s urgent you can be assessed and tested for free:

  • at the Medical and Injury Centre (after-hours GP) in Nelson
  • at the Urgent Care Centre in Blenheim 
  • via the on-call GP in Motueka (phone 03 528 8866 or 03 528 8358)

You can also phone 0800 358 5453 for free medical advice, and do not hesitate to phone 111 or go to a hospital emergency department in an emergency.
CBACs will be open again on Tuesday 2 June.

See the full notice here: https://www.nmdhb.govt.nz/nmdhb-news-and-notices/how-to-get-assessed-or-tested-over-the-queens-birthday-weekend-30-may-to-1-june/

5. Targeted surveillance testing continues

Up to 220 asymptomatic (ie, without COVID-19 symptoms) people, in six priority areas, will be offered a surveillance test this week under new national direction to DHBs for this kind of testing. The six groups are:

i) Returning international travellers and their household contacts
ii) Airport staff
iii) Māori healthcare staff and Māori members of the public aged 35+
iv) Pasifika people, including RSE workers coming to the Nelson Marlborough region from other parts of NZ
v) Pharmacy workers
vi) Shipping workers

NMH’s surveillance testing programme stared two weeks ago. Please refer to this news item for more information: https://www.nmdhb.govt.nz/nmdhb-news-and-notices/targeted-surveillance-testing-starts-this-week/

6. For further information

Please go to the NMH website COVID-19 page for information about:

  • The definition of a ‘probable’ case
  • Why DHBs only release case information by territorial authority regions (and not by towns or smaller regions)
  • Contact tracing
  • Community-based assessment centre (CBAC) locations
  • The difference between screening, assessment and testing at a CBAC
  • Hospital visitation rules
  • Changes to planned care (elective) procedures
  • Where to find the best COVID-19 information and advice
  • Resources to download and share
  • Other frequently-asked questions