| 29 Mar 2022

318 NEW COVID-19 CASES CONFIRMED IN SOUTH CANTERBURY

Today’s cases

  • Timaru District - 254
  • Waimate District - 27
  • Mackenzie District - 17
  • Unknown - 20.

Active cases

  • Timaru District – 1,555
  • Waimate District – 157
  • Mackenzie District - 76
  • Unknown - 68
  • Total active cases -1,856.

Total cases recovered in 2022

  • 2,962.

Cases in Timaru Hospital

  • 3.

The South Canterbury DHB urges 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. If you are a Close Contact, but do not live with the person who has COVID-19, you do not need to get a test unless you develop symptoms.

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. You can now report a RAT result for your child or someone else through your own My Covid Record account.

Please continue to seek the care you need when you need it and attend your hospital outpatient appointments. It is safe to go to our hospital and the general practices as they have the highest level of infection, prevention and control measures in place.

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 from those reported at a DHB. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Unknown cases are due to the normal place of residence not being identified yet.

WHERE TO GET RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS (RATS)

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

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 site:

  • Waimate Rugby Club, Wall Street, Waimate
  • Monday – Saturday
  • 9am - 11am.

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).

VACCINATION ADVICE

With cases escalating in the community, it is extremely important to get vaccinated to reduce your chance of serious illness and hospitalisation.

Click here for a full list of vaccination clinics in South Canterbury, including those taking walk ins. Or you can visit the Healthpoint website.

ENDS

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