12 Mar – Covid-19 update: One new case in managed isolation RNZ

Earlier today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that Auckland would move to alert level 1 at midday after 14 days of no new community cases.

In a statement released this afternoon, the Ministry of Health said the one new imported case reported today arrived on 7 March from India via the UAE.

The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 86, and the total number of confirmed cases is 2061.

The Ministry said all contacts of the air crew case from earlier this month have returned negative results from initial testing.

9 Mar – Dr Lily Fraser explains the process for booking and getting your Covid-19 vaccine.

8 Mar Update

‘It’s our behaviour that’s going to keep us safe’ — psychologist – Stuff

Some are wondering if Aucklanders have become a little too relaxed in the face of the ever-present threat of Covid-19.

While the rest of the country is at alert level 1, for at least this week Auckland is at alert level 2, meaning people can go to workplaces and schools are open but there are limits on gathering sizes and no mingling at restaurants and bars.

20 Feb Update

Vaccine rollout must be ‘positive experience’ for whānau ( Watch video)

A “moving experience” is how Turuki Health Care CEO Te Puea Winiata (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi) has described the delivery of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine ahead of today’s rollout of New Zealand’s immunisation programme.

“It was really quite a moving experience to see a cavalcade of vans coming down delivering the vaccine,” said Winiata, who heads the kaupapa Māori primary health organisation with clinics in Māngere and Panmure in Auckland.

She says Māori providers are ready to provide wrap-around services for whānau as part of the immunisation programme.

“I have to say, I work in a number of networks across South Auckland, Māori providers are poised. They’re ready to go,” Winiata, who is also co-chair of the Covid-19 immunisation implementation advisory group, told reporters at a media conference in Mt Wellington today to mark the vaccination of the first lot of MIQ workers.

Winiata said the systems are in place to provide the vaccinations, however, the challenge is to encourage Māori to get vaccinated.

“But now, we need to think about how we engage whānau. How do we make a positive experience for them?” she said.

“Because if they don’t have a good experience, that’s going to resonate with them. And where does that resonation go? It goes out into the community to other whānau.”

She said bespoke messaging was required that spoke directly to whānau and was meaningful to them. The goal she said was to enable Māori to make an “informed decision”.

CLICK HERE – Clinical immunologists explore why some are anxious about the vaccine – Te Ao with Moana

As of 11.59 pm, Sunday 14 February, Auckland has moved to Alert Level 3. The rest of Aotearoa has moved to Alert Level 2 until 12 midnight, Wednesday 17 February.

Level 3

Checkpoints will be reinstated at Auckland’s border tomorrow morning
The borders are aligned to the DHBs in Auckland and follows Counties Manukau border in the south and Waitematā border in the north.
For the first 24-hours you won’t need documentation to come to Auckland
School will be suspended for the duration of the Level 3 alert
Those with children in years 1 through to 10 will, in a small number of cases, be able to drop their children off at school if they are unable to care for them at home, such as essential workers. Schools must remain open to provide for these children. In all other cases, distance learning must be provided for students to learn at home.
Public venues such as pools and playgrounds will be closed
Supermarkets and pharmacies remain open
Alert Level 3 means staying within your household bubble

Turuki Covid Response

Links and updates