Coronavirus

Click here for our latest Hawke's Bay COVID-19 news updates and information 

 

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Current COVID-19 response

New Zealand is now in the orange setting. 

All of New Zealand is now in the orange setting of the COVID-19 protection framework (read more about the orange setting here). There remains community transmission of COVID-19 with pressure on the health system and risks to vulnerable communities. At Orange, we can continue to do everyday activities, but we need to protect our vulnerable communities.

People can visit cafes and bars, attend gatherings and events, and go to the hairdresser and gym. There are no capacity limits or distancing requirements at venues

People must wear a face mask in many indoor locations. You do not need to wear a face mask outdoors. 

COVID-19 Health Services Impact Update

Some health services are being deferred or significantly reduced due to COVID-19, as our health system responds to the Omicron wave and growing cases in our hospital and community.

Health professionals are being redeployed to support specialist areas of high volume and need (such as ED) so patients with emergency and acute care needs stay well cared for.  Support staff are also being redeployed to other areas of high need, such as helping to support welfare hubs across the rohe.

Thank you for your understanding as temporary changes are introduced to manage patient and staff safety. 

Please see the latest Impact update here. 

COVID-19 testing centres in Hawke's Bay

It's important that you get tested, even if you are fully vaccinated as vaccinated people can get mild symptoms.

Please get tested if:

  • you are feeling unwell with cold or flu symptoms, no matter how mild the symptoms
  • you are a Household Contact of a positive case.

If you are unsure if you should get tested, contact Healthline anytime for free advice about whether you need to get tested: 0800 358 5453.

How do I get a test?

To access free Rapid Antigen Tests please go to the RAT requester site https://requestrats.covid19.health.nz/ (or phone 0800 222 478) and choose your local collection site where you can pick up your RAT kits.

Alternatively, you can have a free supervised test by booking an appointment at a participating Testing Centre. You do not need to be an enrolled patient to get a test. Visit https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19/hawkes-bay/ for open hours and more information.

Participating Testing Centres are:

  • The Doctors Napier
  • Hastings Health Centre
  • Tōtara Health
  • Te Mata Peak Practice
  • Queen St Practice (Wairoa)
  • Takapau Health Centre
  • Central Hawke’s Bay Health Centre (open 9am – 4pm Monday – Friday and 11am – 1.30pm Saturday and Sunday - no appointment required)

 

For people are not unwell or a household contact but want to get a RAT for other purposes, such as to visit an elderly relative, there are retail options now, including some supermarkets and stores.

Reporting your result

Please use My Covid Record to report a rapid antigen test (RAT) that you have performed. After you log in, the button to report a RAT can be found at the bottom of the homepage.

Watch this video to see how to report a RAT test

You can expect 3 types of results from your RAT.

  1. detected
  2. not-detected
  3. failed.

There are instructions on what to do after each of these.

If you have any questions about your RAT or My Covid Record: Email help@mycovidrecord.min.health.nz or phone 0800 222 478

Find out more about Rapid Antigen Tests 

 

Hawke's Bay case update

 

 

COVID-19 vaccination information

Click here for Hawke's Bay COVID-19 vaccine information including clinic information

 

Current visitor policy

All Hawke’s Bay DHB facilities, including Wairoa Hospital, Napier Health and Central Hawke’s Bay Health Centre, currently have a limited-visitor policy to protect our patients and staff and limit the spread of COVID-19. 

  • Visiting hours are 1-8pm.
  • Currently no children under 16 years of age are allowed on the wards.

Masks required for outpatients and visitors

  • Outpatients are strongly encouraged to wear a surgical mask, however access to health care will not be denied to someone with a valid mask exemption. 
  • All visitors to Hawke’s Bay and Wairoa Hospitals along with Central Hawke’s Bay Medical Centre’s inpatient unit must wear disposable medical grade surgical masks.
  • Exemptions for visitors cannot be accepted, except where the visitor is a support person for a patient requiring advocacy such as a child under 16 or a patient who is seriously unwell or with diminished capacity.
  • If you do not bring a mask one will be provided for you.

Visitor policy by area:

Emergency Department (ED):

  • One parent or guardian, or person acting as a kaitiaki (partner in care) can support a patient while they are receiving care inside the Emergency Department.

ED waiting room

  • When the ED waiting room is busy, we may not be able to accommodate all support people due to limited space.
  • To protect patients, whānau and staff, at times a support person may need to wait elsewhere. Thank you for your understanding.

*Priority will be given to parents and guardians and those acting in a kaitiaki capacity.

Wards tower block, Intensive Care Unit and Ngā Rau Rākau mental health services

  • One visitor at a time. More than one person will be able to visit each day, but each person can only visit once a day.

Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU): only parents can visit.

Maternity delivery-suite: two support people are allowed during labour and birth.

Maternity post-natal: one support person plus one visitor at a time, and only one visit a day. 

Outpatients: outpatient appointment patients including radiology and laboratory should come alone, unless they require a support person.

Exceptions to this are a parent/guardian accompanying a child under 16 years or people who have a disability and/or need assistance. Outpatients and any support person must wear a medical grade surgical mask. Discretion may be applied on a case-by-case basis.

Zacs café is currently closed to members of the public but visitors can access food and drink from vending machines in the ward block and in ED.

By adhering to these conditions, you help keep our patients, staff, yourself and other visitors safe. We thank you for your patience and understanding as our staff work hard to protect and care for some of the most vulnerable in our community.

Visitors are encouraged to take the most direct route to the department they need to access and to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing by ‘checking in’ using the COVID-19 app QR code at entrances, washing their hands and following staff instructions on mask usage.

If visitors have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, do not visit — stay home and call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice about getting tested.

 

Look after yourself

It is important to look after your mental health and wellbeing as well as your physical health. It is okay to feel stressed or anxious.

For advice about taking care of yourself visit the COVID-19 Health Hub.

 

Welfare and mental health support

It’s OK to ask for help. As we work through this together, there are people and agencies able to support you. 

Services and support available [PDF]
This fact sheet has a range of advice, help, or support if you need it. If you don’t speak English, you can ask for an interpreter when calling most government departments.

Access to food or essential items [PDF]
We all need food and essential items such as medicine through COVID-19 lockdowns, so please don’t try to go without. This fact sheet has information about the many ways of getting food and other essential items to you.

 

Mental health support 

The following apps, e-therapy tools, offer practical mental health support: