The Ministry of Health announced one new COVID-19 case in the South Canterbury region on the 15 April. The total number of South Canterbury cases is now 13, this includes 12 confirmed cases and one probable case.
New case information
A male in his 40s is recovering at home in self isolation. This case is under investigation.
South Canterbury Existing Case Status
- Eleven confirmed and probable cases are either travel-related or close contacts of confirmed cases.
- One case is remains under investigation.
- One male who is over 70 is in a serious condition in the Timaru Hospital COVID ward.
- Six of the COVID-19 cases have recovered.
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.
Further details about the South Canterbury COVID-19 cases and an updated summary about cases across the New Zealand can be found on the Ministry of Health’s website here:
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-cases
Anyone who is tested for COVID-19 must go into immediate self-isolation while awaiting results and further advice. Depending where the test was performed, the results will be notified by your GP, or the COVID-19 Testing Clinic.
Contact tracing starts for people who test positive as soon as test results are received. Close contacts of the positive case are identified and informed they must self-isolate immediately for 14 days from the date of potential exposure to a confirmed case.
Who should get tested?
The South Canterbury DHB are encouraging as many people as possible to be tested.
As per the COVID-19 Case Definition Criteria dated the 8 April, anyone with an acute respiratory infection with at least one of the following symptoms:
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Coryza - head cold e.g. runny nose, sneezing, post-nasal drip
- Anosmia - loss of sense of smell
- With or without fever.
Should contact Healthline 0800 358 5453, or your GP/NP as they may need testing. Please do not go directly to a pharmacy, GP clinic, or emergency department.
General reminder about prevention and symptoms
Again, we call upon the community to provide support to and respect the privacy of the affected people, and we thank everyone for cooperating with requests to self-isolate and stay at home.
South Canterbury DHB continues to remind the public that the best way they can help with the COVID-19 response is to:
- Keep two metres physical distance from others
- Stay home to avoid exposure to illness
- Practice good personal hygiene and cleaning practices
- Follow the advice from the Ministry of Health – this is useful information that is updated regularly at www.health.govt.nz/covid-19 and the government’s new COVID-19 website: www.covid19.govt.nz.
Media contact:
Karen Berry
Communications Manager
South Canterbury District Health Board
P: 03 687 2395 | M: 021 139 7442
kberry@scdhb.health.nz
