NMH COVID-19 Update: 30 April 2020
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. A new case confirmed in Nelson
A Nelson woman in her 30s has been confirmed with COVID-19 and her case is thought to be related to travel. This is the first case confirmed in the Nelson Marlborough region since 9 April.
NMH Clinical Director of Public Health, Dr Stephen Bridgman says that the Nelson Marlborough Public Health Service is investigating the case. Close contacts and household contacts of the case are in isolation at home, and will be monitored for symptoms.
Dr Bridgman says that while the case may be related to travel, this does not necessarily mean that the case originated in the country of travel. He says that travel-related cases can be caused by contact with an infected passenger on a flight, in transit or by contact with infected people in another country. Dr Bridgman emphasises that the case is still being investigated by NMH and the Ministry of Health.
The woman is a New World Stoke employee. She is not in a customer-facing role, and worked in the store on three separate occasions (mostly outside of store opening hours) before testing positive and going into isolation at home.
New World Stoke have undertaken a deep clean of the store. Staff who may have come into close contact with the case have been tested and are in isolation until their test results come in.
Dr Bridgman says that the risk to other staff members and to the public is considered to be low, given the use of a face mask in the workplace, the absence of a cough in the case (one of the main ways the virus is spread) and the limited movements of the case under Alert Level 4 restrictions.
Dr Bridgman says that the current advice for anyone with symptoms to be assessed and tested for COVID-19 is relevant to this situation. In addition to this, he advises that people who visited New World Stoke between 18 and 26 April be especially vigilant to any symptoms: a cough, fever, runny nose, temporary loss of smell or shortness of breath.
Dr Bridgman thanks New World Stoke, the case and her close contacts, for their quick response and full co-operation with public health safety measures.
What to do if you develop symptoms?
Anyone with symptoms is advised to contact a local community-based assessment centre (CBAC), Healthline (0800 358 5453) or their GP for advice.
CBAC locations and opening hours are on the NMH website: https://www.nmdhb.govt.nz/covid-19
2. Total confirmed cases in the Nelson Marlborough region
With the new Nelson case announced today, there are now four active cases in the region, and a total of 49 confirmed and probable cases.
|
LOCATION |
CONFIRMED CASES |
PROBABLE CASES |
|
Nelson |
23 |
5 |
|
Marlborough |
13 |
8 |
|
TOTALS |
36 |
13 |
- All cases are travel-related and there is no evidence of a community outbreak in the region
- All cases are in isolation at home or in their place of usual residence.
- There are no cases in hospital.
Please refer to the Ministry of Health’s website for further detail: Case confirmation dates, gender and age group and travel details: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-situation/covid-19-current-cases/covid-19-current-cases-details
3. Recovery rates
The number of people who have recovered from COVID-19 is now 45, meaning that there are four cases who are still 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.
4. This week: Drive-through testing stations in rural Marlborough
The Marlborough Primary Health Organisation has organised temporary 'drive-through' COVID-19 stations for rural Marlborough residents this week.
The stations are in addition to the established community-based assessment centre in Blenheim. They are an opportunity to be assessed and tested for Covid-19 if you have symptoms: cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, a runny or dripping nose, temporary loss of smell or a fever.
Seddon, Ward and Kekerengu: Thursday 30 April
- Seddon Community Hall car park: 9 to 11.30am
- Ward Community Hall car park 12 midday to 2pm
- Kekerengu Valley Community Hall car park 2.30 - 3.30pm
Enquiries to Glenis McAlpine by email: [email protected]
5. Next week: Different hours for the community-based assessment centres (CBACs)
The opening hours for some of the CBACs will be reduced from Saturday 2 May.
There will still be more than enough capacity to assess and test people with symptoms. Please refer to the NMH webpage on Saturday to see the new hours: https://www.nmdhb.govt.nz/quicklinks/about-us/emergency-management-and-planning/covid-19/
6. Community-based assessment centre (CBAC) data
The total number of people assessed and tested on 29 April 2020 was:
|
DATE |
LOCATION |
NUMBER OF PEOPLE ASSESSED |
NUMBER OF PEOPLE TESTED (SWABS TAKEN) |
|
29 April
|
Nelson |
55 |
51 |
|
Blenheim |
28 |
28 | |
|
Motueka |
13 |
12 |
|
| Total |
96 |
91 |
New: Golden Bay assessment centre data 13-29 April
|
|
Assessed |
Tested |
|
13 April |
6 |
6 |
|
14 April |
0 |
0 |
|
15 April |
3 |
2 |
|
16 April |
0 |
0 |
|
17 April |
5 |
5 |
|
20 April |
6 |
6 |
|
21 April |
10 |
10 |
|
22 April |
9 |
9 |
|
23 April |
4 |
4 |
|
24 April |
6 |
6 |
|
27 April |
3 |
2 |
|
28 April |
3 |
3 |
|
29 April |
5 |
5 |
|
Total |
60 |
58 |
Running total CBAC data, by location
|
|
NELSON |
BLENHEIM |
MOTUEKA |
GOLDEN BAY |
|
24 MARCH to 28 APRIL |
Assessed: 1591 |
Assessed: 785 |
Assessed: 415 |
|
|
Tested: 1116 |
Tested: 521 |
Tested: 303 |
||
|
13 APRIL to 29 APRIL |
|
|
|
Assessed: 60 |
|
Tested: 58 |
Please note:
- The rate of testing has increased substantially in the past weeks, in line with the revised Ministry of Health case definition.
- This data does not include testing conducted by GPs in healthcare centres (clinics) or by clinicians in hospitals.
7. Health and disability services at Alert Level 3
New Zealand is now at Alert Level 3. The Ministry of Health has summarised how people can access health and disability services at Alert Level 3 on their website here: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-situation/health-and-disability-services-alert-level-3
On this page you’ll also find more in-depth information (fact sheets) about health services at Alert level 3.
8. 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
- How to raise concerns about non-compliance with isolation or physical distancing rules
- 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