ONE NEW COVID-19 CASE CONFIRMED IN SOUTH CANTERBURY
There is a new community COVID-19 case to report in South Canterbury today. This case is in isolation and is currently under investigation. The case shares a location of interest with a previously reported case. Any locations of interest will be publicised via the Ministry of Health website.
If your vaccinations aren’t up to date, now is a good time to get your next dose. People who had their second dose four or more months ago are now eligible for a booster dose. Vaccination Clinics in South Canterbury, including those taking drop-ins are available here. We ask the community to please be patience and kind to the vaccination teams as the announcement of this case may increase the number of people wanting to get vaccinated this week.
We encourage anyone with any symptoms of COVID-19, or if they have visited a location of interest to get tested as soon as possible at the COVID-19 Testing Clinic:
- Monday to Friday from 9am - 6pm - Baptist Church, 17 Wilson Street, Timaru
- Saturday and Sunday from 9am - 4.30pm - Timaru Medical Centre car park, 47a Heaton Street, Timaru.
No appointments are required to be tested at the South Canterbury DHB's drive through COVID-19 Testing Clinic.
In order to protect our health services such as General Practice and the Emergency Department, we ask the community to assist with this by getting tested at the COVID-19 Testing Clinic.
If you live outside of Timaru, please phone your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 and they will advise where you can get tested.
If you need clinical advice about whether you need a test, please call Healthline 0800 358 5453.
COVID-19 symptoms
Common symptoms of COVID-19 are like those found with illnesses such as a cold or influenza. You may have one or more of the following:
- New or worsening cough
- Sneezing and runny nose
- Fever
- Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath.
Less common symptoms of COVID-19 may include diarrhoea, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, malaise, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain or confusion/irritability. These almost always occur with one or more of the common symptoms.
Symptoms tend to arise around two to five days after a person has been infected but can take up to 14 days to show. The virus can be passed onto others before they know they have it – from up to two days before symptoms develop.
Shortness of breath is a sign of possible pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention.
If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor, Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or your iwi health provider.
How to protect yourself and others
These simple steps can slow the spread of the virus and help protect you, your whānau, and your community from COVID-19.
- If you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, stay home and call your doctor or Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453.
- Regularly wash and thoroughly dry your hands
- Sneeze and cough into your elbow
- Keep a safe distance from people you do not know while out and about.
- Clean or disinfect shared surfaces often
- Wear a face covering
- Keep track of where you have been with the NZ COVID Tracer app.
Media contact:
Karen Berry
Communications Manager
South Canterbury District Health Board
P: 03 687 2395 | M: 021 139 7442
kberry@scdhb.health.nz