Hospital Covid-19 cases rise

PAULA HULBURT

More people are being admitted to hospital with COVID-19 as a rise in respiratory illnesses starts to hit.

Latest figures from Te Whatu Ora show a rolling seven-day average of 6.5 people being admitted to Wairau Hospital every week.

Nelson Marlborough’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Baker says while numbers are gradually increasing, he does not expect a dramatic rise.

“In early March, we were seeing single numbers of new cases a day in Marlborough, as low as two.

“By the middle of March this had increased to between nine and fourteen and now it’s about 14 to

25 new cases a day.”

Dr Baker says the rise comes as no surprise but emphasises it is not a dramatic surge.

“It’s no surprise at all as Wairau sees an increase in the number of respiratory illnesses coming in.

“Virus spread more easily at this time of year as people are inside more, in less well-ventilated areas.

“Lower temperatures mean the range of droplets is more as there’s less sun and they don’t evaporate. There is less UV [ultraviolet] to kill infection.”

Staff at Wairau Hospital in Blenheim remain vigilant when it comes to taking precautions, including mask wearing and good hand hygiene.

Dr Baker says while protocols vary from patient to patient, some wear masks while others don’t, especially those who are not mobile or in a single room. The key is to be vigilant, he says. “If you have symptoms in ED [Emergency Department] you will be tested. Patients are not always showing symptoms when they come in.

“We will have some patients and staff who turn up with COVID at times as they don’t know they’re positive.

“COVID is part of our lives now. We’ve always had coughs and colds and now Coronavirus joins Influenzas as a winter virus.”

Dr Baker says vaccinations remain key in the fight against community spread. He is urging anyone who is eligi- organisations in Marlborough, including Picton Community Centre, RNZ Plunket Blenheim, Supporting Families Marlborough Trust and Renwick Menz Shed.

In the 20 plus years of operation, Blue Door has given out more than $80,000 in grants.

“We have a major point of difference from all the other charity shops in Marlborough in that all profits are given back to local not-for-profit organisations in need of extra funding.

“The goods we sell are generously donated and we sell furniture, beds, linen, kitchenware, books/ magazines, clothing, outdoor and sporting equipment, fabric and wool, jewellery and plants.” ble for the booster vaccine to get it done.

Applications for the current round of funding close at 2pm on Saturday May 6.

An additional Pfizer BA.4/5 COVID-19 bivalent booster is now available for people who have completed a primary vaccination course (for most people this is 2 doses). People need to be aged 30 or over or at higher risk of developing