The latest updates from the Prime Minister and Director-General of Health – Day 29 of Alert Level 4:
In his briefing today Dr Ashley Bloomfield sadly reported the death of two New Zealanders. One woman in her sixties has passed away in Dunedin Hospital, arrangements were made for her family to visit her last night. The second death is a man in his seventies who was a resident at Rosewood Rest Home, Christchurch. Our sympathies and thoughts are with their families, friends and loved ones.
• Today there are 2 new confirmed cases and 1 new probable case of COVID-19. However, there is no change to the total number of COVID-19 cases which remains at 1,451. This is due to the three cases reported yesterday being initially tested in Uruguay and may have already been reported to the WHO. 1065 cases have recovered – this is an increase of 29 from yesterday.
• A record number of 6,480 tests were processed yesterday. This brings the total number of tests to 101,277.
• 8 people are currently in hospital. 1 person is in ICU in Middlemore Hospital.
• There are still 16 significant clusters, 4 more COVID-19 cases have been linked to these clusters.
• Hospitals will remain open for emergency and acute care at Alert Level 3. Some elective services including surgery and radiology will be provided, more detail will follow on this.
• In aged residential care only family visits for palliative and compassionate reasons will be considered, this will be on a case-by-case basis.
• GPs will continue to be open and will continue to conduct virtual consultations where possible. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 please call your GP or Healthline.
• Dental services may allow urgent face-to-face appointments, but not routine dental care. Community midwives will continue to do the fantastic work they do, virtually as much as possible.
• There will be an allowance for some face-to-face physiotherapy, optometry and podiatry appointments where urgent care is required. However appointments will be done virtually as much as possible.
• Community mental health appointments will also continue virtually, unless absolutely necessary.
• The Minister of Health has asked the Director-General to do a stocktake on the processes DHBs are using to distribute PPE.
• Later today the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management and the Police Commissioner will give an update.
• Civil Defence groups are working to support vulnerable New Zealanders – keeping people fed, warm and well.
• 16 local Civil Defence groups are doing what they do best, coordinating across government agencies, NGOs, iwi and community-cased groups. There is an 0800 number people can call if they need Civil Defence support These numbers are on the Civil Defence website.
• Hunting will be allowed at Alert Level 3 as long as you stay in your in region, stay in your bubble and please don’t put yourself at risk of needing rescue. Public conservation land is closed for tramping and hunting. On private land you will need landowner’s permission.
• The duck hunting season was due to begin on May 2. The duck hunting season will instead go ahead in the second weekend after we move to Alert Level 2.
• On Anzac Day the Prime Minister will participate in Stand at Dawn. The RSA is encouraging everyone to commemorate Anzac Day by standing at the end their driveways at 6am on April 25.
• Today I want to thank the New Zealand Defence Force for everything they do around the world and at home, including assisting on our response to COVID-19.
For more information visit: www.covid19.govt.nz
Ruapehu EOC Situation Report
Read the latest situation updates from the Ruapehu Emergency Operations Centre at
https://www.ruapehudc.govt.nz/…/coro…/Pages/default.aspx