| 15 Jun 2022

75 NEW COVID-19 CASES CONFIRMED IN SOUTH CANTERBURY

Today’s cases

  • Timaru District – 64
  • Waimate District – 6
  • Mackenzie District – 5
  • Unknown – 0.

Active cases

  • Timaru District – 442
  • Waimate District – 87
  • Mackenzie District - 55
  • Unknown – 5
  • Total active cases – 589.

Total cases recovered in 2022

  • 15,749.

Cases in Timaru Hospital

  • 2.

The South Canterbury DHB encourages everyone in South Canterbury to be vigilant and get tested if they develop any symptoms of COVID-19, or if you are a Household Contact of a positive case.

Vaccination remains our best defence against COVID-19. There is a much lower risk of being hospitalised if you are up to date with your vaccinations, which, for Omicron, includes a third or booster dose if eligible. Even if you’ve had COVID-19 you should still get any COVID-19 vaccinations you’re eligible for. It’s recommended you wait 3 months after testing positive before getting any COVID-19 vaccination. Click here for a full list of vaccination clinics in South Canterbury, including those taking walk ins, or visit the Healthpoint website.

If you complete a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) it’s important to report your positive or negative result on mycovidrecord.health.nz or call 0800 222 478 and press option 3. If you have COVID-19 and your symptoms are getting worse, please seek medical care before you get too sick, whether that is from your general practice or the South Canterbury COVID-19 Coordination Centre on 0800 111 880.

Please note, the Ministry of Health’s daily reported cases may differ slightly due to different reporting cut off times. Unknown cases are due to the normal place of residence not being identified yet.

STAY WELL THIS WINTER

The South Canterbury DHB is encouraging our community to look after their health to help reduce the pressure on the health system by following these steps to stay well this winter:

  • Stay at home if you are unwell or have symptoms of COVID-19 and get a COVID-19 test. If your symptoms worsen or you are concerned about the health of someone you care for, call Healthline on 0800 358 5453, or your doctor
  • Call 111 if you have an emergency. If your situation is less urgent consider calling Health on 0800 611 116 or your doctor
  • Wear a face mask when on public transport, in indoor settings like retail stores and supermarkets, when in poorly ventilated spaces, or when it is hard to physically distance from other people
  • Maintain good hand hygiene by washing and drying your hands thoroughly or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser
  • Sneeze or cough into your elbow or a tissue. Avoid touching your face, dispose of tissues in a waste bin immediately and wash or sanitise your hands. This will prevent the risk of spreading COVID-19 and other viruses such as the common cold or flu
  • Get your Winter Wellness Kit together: this might include painkillers, a thermometer, tissues, cold and flu medications, enough food and household items for a few days, and a good stock of the regular medicines you or your whānau will need.
  • Eat well and stay active. Nutrition and physical activity play an important part in our overall health and wellbeing, including our bodies’ ability to fight off illness. Getting a good night’s sleep also helps
  • Make sure you and your whānau are up to date with all available vaccinations against infectious diseases like influenza; measles, mumps and rubella; chicken pox; whooping cough (pertussis); pneumococcal diseases and COVID-19.


WHERE TO GET RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS (RATS)

If you are showing COVID-19 symptoms or are a household contact you can pre-order a RAT online to collect at requestrats.covid19.health.nz or by ringing 0800 222 478 (option 3) from 8am to 8pm. You can have someone collect your order for you at a collection site.

Timaru Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) collection site and COVID-19 Testing Clinic:

  • Aorangi Park, Morgans Road, Timaru (north end car park)
  • Monday – Friday, 9am - 4.30pm.
  • Saturday – Sunday, 9am – 3pm.

Please note, due to sporting events the Aorangi Park RAT collection site will be CLOSED this Saturday 18 June. A RAT collection site will be located in the Talbot Park Car Park, 156 Otipua Road, Timaru from 9am-3pm on Saturday 18 June.

Temuka Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) collection site:

  • Hally Terrace, Temuka (near Domain Avenue)
  • Sunday – Thursday (closed Friday and Saturday)
  • 12.30pm – 4pm.

Geraldine Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) collection site:

  • Geraldine Rugby Club, George Street, Geraldine
  • Sunday – Thursday (closed Friday and Saturday)
  • 9am to 11.30am.

Waimate Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) collection sites:

  • Oak House Medical Centre
  • 161 Queen Street, Waimate, 03 689 7676 (pick up from Gorge Road entrance)
  • Monday – Friday
  • 10am – 12pm and 2pm - 5pm
  • Please note, before going to this collection site, you need to place an order via (requestrats.covid19.health.nz) or by ringing 0800 222 478 (option 3).

Twizel Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) collection site:

  • MacKenzie Pharmacy, 6-7 Market Place, Twizel
  • Monday – Friday, 9am - 5pm
  • Saturday, 10am - 2pm
  • Please note, before going to this collection site, you need to place an order via (requestrats.covid19.health.nz) or by ringing 0800 222 478 (option 3).

Fairlie Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) collection site:

  • Fairlie HealthCare Depot, 78 Main Street, Fairlie
  • Monday – Friday
  • 9am - 5.30pm
  • Please note, before going to this collection site, you need to place an order via (requestrats.covid19.health.nz) or by ringing 0800 222 478 (option 3).

ENDS

Media contact:
Karen Berry
Communications Manager
South Canterbury District Health Board
P: 03 687 2395 | M: 021 139 7442
kberry@scdhb.health.nz