31 August COVID-19 health key messages

Latest COVID-19 health key messages Approved messages for use in your communications Consistent messaging helps us to coordinate our efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This document provides approved key messages from the Ministry of Health.

You may share this messaging with your internal and external audiences. New sections and changes to messages are in red.

31 August 2021

Alert level change All parts of New Zealand south of the Auckland boundary will move to Alert Level 3 at 11.59pm tonight (Tuesday 31 August 2021). This setting will remain in place for one week. Cabinet will review this decision on Monday 6 September 2021.

Auckland will remain at Alert Level 4 for a further two weeks. Cabinet will meet on Monday 13 September 2021 to review the Alert Level setting for Auckland.

Northland is expected to remain at Alert Level 4 until 11.59pm Thursday 2 September 2021. Cabinet will review the Alert Level setting for Northland later this week.

New community cases announced There are 49 new cases of COVID-19 in the community today. All 49 cases are in Auckland.

The total number of community cases is now 612 – with 597 in Auckland and 15 in Wellington.

All the cases have or are being transferred safely to a quarantine facility, under strict infection prevention and control procedures, including the use of full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Preparing for Alert Level 3 The Delta variant of COVID-19 is more infectious and moves faster, so businesses and services need to take further precautions to operate safely. This includes employees and any visitors and customers wearing face coverings, keeping a record of visits and ensuring people keep at least 2-metres physical distance.

More businesses and services will be able to operate at Alert Level 3. This means face coverings and scanning in will be mandatory in more places. It is also encouraged that whenever you leave the house that you wear a face covering.

More information about Alert Level 3 is on the Unite Against COVID-19 website

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Vaccinations for everyone 12 years or older From Wednesday 1 September, everyone in New Zealand who is 12 years and over will be eligible to get a vaccination. This includes everyone, no matter what their immigration status.

You do not need an NHI number to get vaccinated. If you don’t have an NHI number, one will be assigned to you when you get vaccinated. This is only for the purpose of keeping a record of who has been vaccinated.

Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) We are continually reviewing the published guidance on the use of PPE and updating our website regularly. The latest website updates include: •

updated Alert Level 3 and 4 guidance on the use of PPE for disability support workers who work in clients’ homes

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information about fit testing and fit checking of P2/N95 particulate respirators, including links to manufacturers’ guidance (in PDF and video format).

Read the updated information and guidance on PPE

Emergency ambulance services •

Emergency ambulance services, including road ambulance and air ambulance, continue to operate throughout all COVID-19 alert levels.

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Emergency road ambulance services are provided by St John and Wellington Free Ambulance (for Wellington and the Wairarapa).

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All emergency ambulance providers adhere to strict infection prevention and control principles to help protect paramedics and patients from the risk of COVID-19.

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Please tell the call taker and paramedics if you may have been exposed to COVID-19. This will ensure that they able to use the appropriate PPE (for example, masks and gloves) to keep themselves and others safe while treating and transporting you.

Testing update Yesterday, 16,755 tests were processed across New Zealand.

Demand for testing in Auckland remains high with around 12,700 swabs taken across metro Auckland yesterday – 4,700 at community testing centres and around 8,000 at general practice and urgent care clinics.

There are 24 community testing centres available for testing across Auckland today, this includes six regular community testing centres, 14 pop-up testing centres and four invitation-only for high-risk groups and to prioritise essential health care workers.

The pop-up community testing centre at Parakai is closed today due to flooding in the area. Anyone who presents for testing at this site is being diverted to the local medical centre.

The storm also impacted the two drive-through vaccination sites at Trusts Arena in Henderson and Airport Park and Ride which were closed until 11am this morning. We have been working with those who have been impacted to reschedule their appointments.

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Wiri and Balmoral testing centres are operating extending hours this week and will stay open until 8pm to supplement existing testing in Urgent Care Clinics.

For up-to-date information on all testing locations, please visit the Healthpoint website.

Information sheet for public We have an information sheet for people who have been tested. If your health service needs an easy way to tell people what they need to do if they’ve just been tested, you can print the ‘You just got tested’ information sheet from our website

Grants for community youth mental wellbeing The Ministry has launched a $1 million fund for grassroots initiatives that are supporting the mental wellbeing of youth through the impacts of COVID-19.

The Youth Community Mental Wellbeing fund will provide grants of up to $100,000, with a priority on youth in Northland and Auckland, and those disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 response, including Pasifika.

We know that the impacts are likely to be greater for the Pacific community and young people in New Zealand.

Research on the impacts of lockdowns in 2020 indicate youth may be more vulnerable due to their life stage and the fact housing and employment is typically more transient. Meanwhile, Delta has permeated the Pacific community in Auckland especially. As with our approach to mental wellbeing, we need tailored approaches that speak to the needs of the Pacific community.

We want to support community initiatives that are already doing good work, or that can stand up quickly and welcome applications from a range of small organisations including sporting organisations, student associations, kaupapa Māori, Pacific, rainbow and other non-Government organisations, clubs/interest groups etc.

The application process is on the Ministry’s website. Applications close on 6 September 2021. Grants are expected to be in place for successful applicants before the end of September.

Getting help Alert Level lockdowns can be particularly challenging for young people between the ages of 12-24 when not in their normal learning environments or dealing with transient housing.

Youthline’s free call, text or web chat and 1737 are available for young people who need to speak with someone about their mental wellbeing. In addition, a range of digital self-help tools are available for rangatahi, and are listed on the Ministry of Health website.

Pacific languages information service Vaka Tautua is a free Pacific communities call service in Samoan, Tongan, Cook Islands, Māori and English.

The free call phone line - 0800 652 353 (0800 Ola Lelei) - is available from Monday to Friday at 8.30am to 5pm.

Visit the Vaka Tautua website for more information and for links to COVID-19 resources at www.vakatautua.co.nz.

Latest information for screening participants All Alert Levels

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Antenatal and newborn screening programmes are considered high priority. They will continue to operate across all COVID-19 alert levels, but with some change as appropriate to ensure that health staff, women and babies are kept safe.

Alert Level 4 – Auckland and Northland •

Routine screening is paused for breast and cervical screening services, except for some required annual cervical screening.

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At present, bowel screening will be continued. You can still expect to receive your invitation to take part in bowel screening.

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For those who have already been screened, the decision for diagnostic and treatment services will be made by the clinical teams at a local and regional level on a case-by-case basis.

Alert Level 3 – Rest of New Zealand •

Screening programmes are operating with appropriate safeguards in place to keep participants and staff safe. It is recommended that people with pre-existing existing medical conditions check with their health professional as to whether it is safe to attend appointments.

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Bowel screening will continue. You can still expect to receive your invitation to take part in bowel screening.

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Cervical and breast screening will continue for most women. The decision to screen those with existing medical conditions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The National Screening Unit is advising screening providers to follow Alert Level 3 and 4 processes. Further information on programmes will be updated on the Time to Screen website

Myocarditis case review •

The Ministry of Health has published a statement regarding the death of a woman in the days following her being vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

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The COVID-19 Vaccine Independent Safety Monitoring Board (CV-ISMB) has considered that the woman’s death was due to myocarditis, which is known to be a rare side effect of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

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The CV-ISMB noted that there were other medical issues occurring at the same time which may have influenced the outcome following vaccination.

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The case has been referred to the Coroner and the cause of death has not yet been determined.

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Healthcare professionals and members of the public are reminded to be vigilant and know the signs of myocarditis and pericarditis.

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Symptoms of myocarditis can include new onset chest pain, shortness of breath and an abnormal heartbeat.

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It’s important that anyone who experiences these symptoms in the first few days after vaccination seeks medical attention promptly.

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There are many possible causes of myocarditis. The most common cause is a viral infection, and it can also be caused by COVID-19.

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The benefits of vaccination with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine continue to greatly outweigh the risk of both COVID-19 infection and vaccine side effects, including myocarditis.

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It’s important to get information from official sources. For reliable information about COVID-19 go to www.covid19.govt.nz, www.health.govt.nz, or karawhiua.nz for information in English and Māori.

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For specific information about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine visit the Medsafe website.

(Due to the clinical and sensitive nature of this situation, please do not make any changes to the messaging, especially the specifics about this case).

Read the Ministry of Health’s media statement

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Section 70s updated Section 70s have been updated today to further clarify requirements of people who have visited a location of interest and their household contacts. A further Section 70 has also been issued specific to contacts in the Auckland health area.

S70 issued, Locations of Interest in New Zealand – 29 August 2021 •

Requirement for any person attending a location of interest at the relevant times to comply with the health instructions as per the location listed.

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This update takes into account the different health requirements which now include monitor for symptoms, or test and self-isolate.

S70 issued, for household members of a person who has been at a location of interest or is a Close contact •

This requires the household members to stay at home until the close contact has received a negative day 5 test result.

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The exemption that enables people who provide essential health services or are a managed isolation/quarantine worker, or who are household members of a close contact, to return to work earlier than the five days specified if they meet the criteria listed does still apply.

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This update allows household members to exercise while they are awaiting their Close contacts’ day 5 negative test. They must follow physical distancing requirements when doing so (they cannot go to the supermarket or visit other essential services).

S70 issued (NEW), requirements for any person in the Tamaki-Makaurau-Auckland health district who has returned a positive test for COVID-19 •

This requires people in the Auckland district that have returned a positive test to be isolated or quarantined in a managed isolation or quarantine facility for 14 days.

Information on the section 70 and locations of interest in New Zealand are available on the Ministry of Health website

Mandatory mask wearing While at Alert Level 4, the use of face coverings is mandatory for all employees and customers at businesses and services that are open to the public. This includes supermarkets, pharmacies, petrol stations, hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Face coverings remain mandatory: •

on public transport and at departure points, for example, train stations, flights and bus stops

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in taxi or ride-share vehicles (drivers and passengers).

We encourage health workers as well as others to wear face coverings and keep a two-metre distance from others when leaving their home, especially if it is difficult to maintain physical distance from others.

Use of face coverings such as a scarf or bandana are not recommended by the Ministry of Health. A suitable reusable or disposable mask is needed to help protect against the airborne spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Read more: COVID-19: Use of masks and face coverings in the community and on the Unite Against COVID-19 website.

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Exemptions for mask use Please be mindful that some people, like disabled people, might not be able to wear a mask. This is a genuine concern, and disabled people still have the right to food, pharmacies, and other essential services but are currently being jeered at, harassed, and scared to go shopping.

In these cases, you can get an exemption card to show when needed, for example to bus drivers or at supermarkets.

Contact the Disabled Persons Assembly NZ by calling 04 801 9100 or emailing info@dpa.org.nz.

Contact tracing As of 9am today, 34,413 individual contacts have been identified and around 89% have had a test.

COVID-19 vaccine update Yesterday, 76,354 vaccines were administered. Of these 53,032 were first doses and 23,322 were second doses.

More than 3.4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to date. Of these, over 2.2 million are first doses and more than 1.18 million are second doses.

More than 202,000 Māori have received their first vaccination. Of these, more than 106,000 have also had their second vaccinations.

More than 131,000 doses have been administered to Pacific peoples. Of these, more than 72,000 have also received their second doses.

View the latest vaccine data and statistics on our website •

Book your COVID-19 vaccinations If you are aged 30+ and haven’t booked your appointments, please call 0800 28 29 26 or visit the Book My Vaccine website to book them in. If you know an older person who hasn’t been vaccinated yet, please share this information with them.

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Keep your vaccination appointments The COVID-19 vaccination programme is continuing throughout Alert Level 4, so if you already have a booking please keep your appointment.

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Vaccination centres are operating safely Vaccination sites are operating under Alert Level 4 settings, to ensure you can safely be vaccinated. This means you must have an appointment and come at your allotted time. You must wear a face covering to your appointment.

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If you are required to self-isolate or are not well Reschedule your booking for a later date. Call 0800 28 29 26 or visit the Book My Vaccine website

Post vaccine symptom check •

The Post Vaccine Symptom Check is a mobile-based survey which will help the Ministry of Health to monitor reactions to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in New Zealand.

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We’re already tracking reports of serious and non-serious reactions after either dose of the Pfizer vaccine using our current reporting system.

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The Post Vaccine Symptom Check is an additional way for us to collect data.

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Collecting data about reactions to the vaccine helps us to confirm that the safety of the vaccine in New Zealand is the same that was seen in clinical trials.

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A text message will be sent from the Ministry of Health, to ask whether you had any reactions to the vaccine.

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More information about the Post Vaccine Symptom Check can be found on the Medsafe website.

Aged and disability residential care at Alert Level 4 •

Aged residential care and disability residential care are essential services and must continue to be available.

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Essential personal care services, such as toileting, washing and feeding, should be provided as usual.

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Essential home help, such as house cleaning, may be available if it can be provided safely.

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Essential supported living services will continue.

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For aged residential care, hospices and disability residential care, family visits are not currently permitted.

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Family visits on compassionate grounds, such as in a palliative situation, will be considered on a case-bycase basis by the facility nursing staff, subject to public health advice, provider assessment and COVID-19 risk screening. Visits will be by appointment only. There is a limit to the number of designated visitors at one time. Planned respite services will be suspended, but urgent respite care may be provided.

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Support persons are permitted under right 8 of the Health and Disability Code.

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NGO delivered services, such as social connection, health promotion and education activities are suspended, however other non-contact ways of providing this support are encouraged, such as ZOOM or by phone.

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Retirement villages operate within same restrictions as the wider community, with on-site facilities closed.

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Read more: COVID-19: Aged care providers

Advice for older people The Ministry has updated its information for older people who live alone or in a retirement village on creating a support bubble/buddy during Alert Level 4. Read more on ‘Preventing the spread of COVID-19 by building safe bubbles’ on COVID-19: Advice for older people and their family and whānau or call Age Concern 0800 662 105.

Advice for in-home carers Any person who enters a home to provide care should: •

stay home if they are sick and get tested if they have any COVID-19 symptoms

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practice good hygiene at all times

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maintain physical distancing where possible

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use personal protective equipment (PPE) as appropriate

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keep a record of their visit for contact tracing purposes.

In-home carers are strongly advised to get vaccinated. Those who have not been vaccinated and would like to be, can book themselves on the Book My Vaccine website.

Employers of in-home carers must have appropriate guidelines and systems in place aimed at keeping staff safe in the workplace. This includes following the appropriate workplace health and safety guidelines and notifying a carer if the person they are visiting is sick.

The Ministry of Health has a new page with information and guidance for in-home carers.

Alert Level boundary: business exemptions 7

With the plan for Auckland and Northland remaining at COVID-19 Alert Level 4 while the rest of the country moves to Alert Level 3 from 23:59 on Tuesday, 31 August, the Business Travel Register has now been activated for businesses to apply for their Business Travel Documents through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) using Business Connect.

Businesses with workers needing to cross the Alert Level boundary can apply for Business Travel Documents if they meet the criteria for permitted travel. A worker may only cross the Alert Level Boundary if that travel is legally permitted for that Alert Level shift, or if they have a current travel exemption granted by the Director-General of Health.

The eligible business categories, types of travel permitted and link to start an application through Business Connect are available here https://www.business.govt.nz/covid-19/business-travel-across-alert-level-boundaries/. Boundary between regions in different Alert Levels can be found on the Unite Against COVID-19 website https://covid19.govt.nz/travel/travelling-across-alert-level-boundaries/personal-travel-permissions-over-an-alertlevel-4-and-3-boundary/.

Health’s process for receiving and considering applications for personal travel exemption across the AL4/AL3 boundary will be open before the boundary is stood up at 11:59pm on Tuesday.

Length of stay in quarantine A change has been agreed to the departure criteria from quarantine, i.e. Jet Park and the other quarantine facilities/areas. From 27 August, people in quarantine need to remain there for at least 14 days post-symptom onset or positive test result (if they remain asymptomatic). This is an increase from the previous requirement for at least 10 days post-symptom onset or positive test.

The change reflects the prevalence of the Delta variant and the fact it is more transmissible than previous variants.

It is estimated that Delta is approximately twice as infectious as the ancestral strain, with positive cases potentially infecting an additional 6 people on average. Recent studies have also shown it is possible that the Delta variant is associated with a longer period of infectiousness.

People released from quarantine must still be cleared by a health professional responsible for monitoring their health and wellbeing. Some exemptions are possible at the discretion of the Medical Officer of Health.

More detailed guidance is being sent to front-line staff.

Revised primary care quick reference guide The Ministry has published a revised Primary Care Quick Reference Guide.

The guide is a summary of information for community healthcare providers involved in assessing and managing undifferentiated respiratory illness and queries regarding COVID-19 risk and need for testing.

The latest version updates use of P2/N95 particulate respirators, PPE for symptomatic patients, notification advice, and isolation exemption for vaccinated essential healthcare workers who are household members of close contacts.

See the Ministry’s COVID-19 Primary care page.

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If you are pregnant and due to give birth If you are likely to go into labour and give birth while the country is in Alert Level 3 or 4 and you have older children, you will need to organise care for them while you are in labour. If you have children, they must continue to follow the rules under Alert Levels 3 or 4 to stay home.

It is recommended that you identify a trusted person who will become an extension of your ‘bubble’ to provide care for your children. It is vital that this person is not elderly or vulnerable, and that they, and the people in their household, do not have other contacts other than with your household.

Read more: Maternity care while pregnant and following the birth of your baby during the COVID-19 pandemic

Maternity services sector The Ministry has updated its guidance for maternity services at Alert levels 3 and 4 for community-based midwives, the use of Entonox in labour and community-based maternity ultrasounds. View the updated guidance on our website

Continuing with childhood immunisation and wearing PPE in Alert Level 4 In Alert Level 4, it is important that general practices and outreach services across the country continue delivering essential health services, including on-time delivery of the childhood immunisation schedule vaccines.

Guidance when in GP clinics •

Follow the same process as when managing patients coming into clinics in Alert Level 4 with no respiratory issues. This includes a pre-appointment screening for COVID-19 risk.

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We recommend the healthcare worker to use a medical mask.

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Where at all possible, vaccinate at the side of the child.

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Perform hand hygiene, it is not necessary to wear gloves gown or eye protection, but you should follow your own clinic’s IPC protocols.

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Depending on your clinic circumstances, you may wish to consider offering vaccination services in cars.

IMAC is developing further advice to support this option.

Guidance when in private homes and other outreach service situations While each provider will have their own guidance and protocols in place for use of PPE, our advice is set out in the Ministry of Health COVID-19 PPE guide for community care providers working Alert Levels 3 and 4.

This states that when caring for someone who is not a probable or confirmed COVID-19 case and does not meet the Clinical and Higher Index of Suspicion (HIS) Criteria1, hand hygiene and wearing a mask are required. Please note that at Alert Level 4, everyone with respiratory symptoms is considered high risk.

Always pre-screen for COVID-19 risk before making a home visit.

It is important that pregnancy, infant and childhood immunisation remain a priority as New Zealand’s immunisation rates have recently been declining. We saw coverage drop following lockdowns last year, with disparities by ethnicity and deprivation particularly leaving many tamariki Māori and Pacific children vulnerable.

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Children can be immunised safely during all COVID-19 alert levels, including Alert Level 4. Your doctor or nurse can explain how it works at their practice, for example whether immunisations take place at a separate location or time from other patients.

Thank you for maintaining the immunisation programme during this challenging period to keep control of other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Please get in touch at immunisation@health.govt.nz if you have any queries.

Mental health and wellbeing General •

It is important to remember that our approach has worked to date. We have stamped out Covid-19 before and we can do it again.

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This can be an unsettling time, and the uncertainty can have an impact on our mental wellbeing. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, upset or frustrated.

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Frontline staff who are seeking mental health and wellbeing support can access their organisation’s employee assistance programme, or call or text 1737.

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Please take advantage of the free tools and resources available to support your mental wellbeing, this includes calling 1737 if you feel you need to talk to someone, or calling your local GP practice or student health service that can provide advice on how to get help to support your mental wellbeing during Alert Level 4. Further resources are listed on the Ministry of Health website.

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If your feelings are impacting on your day-to-day function or are concerning you, please talk to others and get support.

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Keeping life as “normal” as you can within the Level 4 rules is important. There are some things that we can do to look after our mental wellbeing: o

Stay connected with friends and whānau (distance, not distant).

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Limit your time online.

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Have a plan! Stick to a schedule or routine.

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Move your body daily.

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Explore your local neighbourhood (at an appropriate distance).

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Go easy on yourself.

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Notice and appreciate small moments of joy.

Mental health and addiction services under Alert Level 4 •

Mental health and addiction services remain essential services under Alert Level 4. If you are concerned about yourself, or someone you know, local GP clinics and student health services are continuing to operate and can help link people into the mental health and addiction support that may be needed. Local mental health and addiction crisis services also continue to operate. All the contact details are available on the Ministry of Health website.

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As always, if there is an emergency and you have immediate fears for the safety of yourself or others, call 111.

If you are not safe, you can leave your bubble If you are the victim of family violence, sexual violence, or there is someone that makes you fearful, threatens or harasses you, seek help as soon as possible. You have the right to be safe. Family violence and sexual violence support lines are open for people to call, email or text.

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If someone is in danger, call 111. If you or someone you know is in danger and it is not safe to talk, Police have the Silent Solution – phone 111 and if you do not speak, you will get the option of pressing 55.

Find out more about the help and support available

Access to health and disability services Information on how to access health and disability services at Alert Level 4 which covers: •

hospitals

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general practices

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community health services

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disability and aged care services

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mental health and addiction services.

Find information on how to access health and disability services

Director General’s weekly update You are receiving these Health key messages updates because you are a current subscriber. We also send out a regular weekly update from the Director General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield. If you want to subscribe to these updates, you can do so here

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