Covid-19: 22 new community cases for Southern Lakes
The Southern District Health Board has reported 22 new community cases of Covid-19 in the Queenstown Lakes district today, bringing the total number of community cases in the area to 56.
An additional eight new community cases were recorded across the Southern region.
A SDHB media spokesperson says she's unable to break these numbers down further to specific towns, so locals can't know case numbers across the Queenstown or Wānaka communities.
For now, the SDHB has reported no community cases in Central Otago, so Cromwell remains officially Covid-free, despite locations of interest in the town being added to the Ministry of Health’s list last week.
Current cases as of 11.59pm, February 14
|
Total new cases |
Total cases |
Southern District |
30 |
72 |
Central Otago |
0 |
0 |
Clutha |
0 |
0 |
Dunedin |
2 |
5 |
Gore |
4 |
4 |
Invercargill |
2 |
3 |
Queenstown-Lakes |
22 |
56 |
Southland |
0 |
4 |
Waitaki |
0 |
0 |
Please note, the Ministry of Health’s daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. 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. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO.
As of 1pm today there were 450 close contacts isolating throughout the Southern district, with 332 of these in the Queenstown Lakes district.
With Covid circulating, everyone is at risk of being exposed, the spokesperson says.
“At all times practice good hygiene, especially when you are socialising.
“Get your booster, wear your mask, wash your hands, and keep physically distant from others.
“These actions will slow the spread and help flatten the curve.”
Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms should isolate and get tested immediately, the spokesperson says.
The SDHB has also issued fresh instructions for hospital users: Elective operations and procedures at hospitals across the region will continue, with Covid tests a requirement 48 to 72 hours prior to surgery, the spokesperson says.
“This can be conducted at any community testing centre.
“Patients will be contacted by their Planned Care Team if they will require a swab.”
Visitors to Southern hospitals will need to wear a surgical mask and anyone with a mask exemption will not be able to enter a hospital; patients are allowed just one visit each day by one of two registered visitors, with exemptions for some palliative care patients, the spokesperson says.
Been out and about? See Crux coverage of today’s new locations of interest here.