Talofa lava, Mālo e lelei, Kia orana, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Mālo Ni, Ni sa bula vinaka, Noa’ia, Mauri, Tena koutou katoa <<First Name>>,
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Yesterday, for the first time in Aotearoa, daily Covid cases were over 1,000. Case numbers will continue to rise and the best thing you can do is get your booster shot if it has been 3 months or more since your second dose and you are over 18 years old. Over 2 million boosters have been given in New Zealand so far.
We have information below on testing and what the change from Phase 1 to Phase 2 means.
Please remember, you only need to go for a Covid test if
- you have symptoms OR
- are a contact of a positive case
Malo ‘aupito,
Karyn Ne’emia & The Pacific Equity Team,
Alliance Health Plus
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Phase Two of the Omicron Response
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At midnight on Tuesday 15th February New Zealand moved to Phase 2 of it's Omicron Response Plan. Key things to know about Phase 2:
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TESTING
- Testing will continue to be mostly PCR testing, RAT tests will mostly be used for critical workers registered in the Close Contact Exemption Scheme.
- If you get a positive RAT test you will need to go for a PCR test to confirm the positive result.
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NOTIFICATION & CONTACT TRACING
- People who have a positive PCR test will be notified by text.
- They will be given an online form to complete. This will include contact tracing information and information to help health services work out how much support you need (health and social support).
- If you need help with the form there will be a phone number you can call.
- Close Contacts who are not household contacts will
- be notified by text, push notification or Bluetooth alert.
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SELF-ISOLATION
- If you get Covid you need to isolate for 10 days.
- If someone you live with gets Covid everyone living in the house needs to isolate for 10 days AND get tested on day 3 and day 8.
- Close contacts of a Covid case need to isolate for 7 days and get tested immediately and on day 5 OR if you develop symptoms.
- If you are a vaccinated close contact with no symptoms or mild symptoms AND your employer is registered in the Close Contact Exemption Scheme for critical workers, you may be able to continue working if you take daily RAT tests which have a negative result.
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WELLNESS & SUPPORT
- Most who test positive will be able to rest and recover at home.
- The online form you will fill out if you get a positive result, will help services to see what extra support you may need.
- People will monitor their own symptoms and reach out to health providers if they need to.
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Extra help with essential needs
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If you are required to self-isolate and need extra help with things such as food or finances, you may be able to find support through the places below:
- Ministry of Social Development may be able to help with immediate and essential needs. Apply here.
- South Seas Healthcare Wellbeing Hub
- Call 027 303 0064
- Open 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
- The Fono Felehoko Food Hub
- Food and wellbeing support for Pacific communities
- Call 0800FONO4U (366 648)
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Vaccination for 5 - 11 year olds
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Many of our children are back at school now and the Covid vaccination is available for those aged 5 years and older. Here are some kids talking about their experience getting their vaccination at the recent South Seas Healthcare Rally Your Village event.
Click here to watch the video
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Prepare Pacific Community Vaccination Fund
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The Prepare Pacific Community Vaccination Fund received a $1.5 million dollar boost from the Government to support Pacific community-led initiatives to encourage boosters and child vaccinations.
The fund will support community driven action (mobilisation initiatives) that leads to full Covid-19 vaccinations for Pacific peoples in Auckland.
To find out more and apply click here here.
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Rapid Antigen Tests are sometimes called RAT tests. These are a different type of Covid test that can be done yourself at home and gives a result in 15 - 20 minutes.
Until now, New Zealand has used PCR testing (the swab that reaches to the back of your nose) to test for Covid, as these tests are more accurate.
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With the rising numbers of Omicron RAT tests will be used more often to test for Covid in some people. New Zealand will continue to use PCR testing for a lot of people.
RATs will mostly be available for people who work in critical roles such as healthcare, food production and supply and transport. Your employer will be able to tell you if you are one of these workers. If you are, your employer will tell you when and how to get RAT tests.
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Please remember to check for new locations of interest regularly. The website has instructions on what you need to do if you were at one of these places on the date/time given. The instructions may be different for different locations depending on the level of risk. Click here to visit the locations of interest.
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If you have any feedback regarding the newsletter itself, or it's content, please feel free to send us your feedback (karynn@alliancehealth.org.nz). Our facebook page @mamashouseAH is where we engage directly with our community - why don't you join us there!
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