Health and disability services at Alert Level 1
New Zealand is now at Alert Level 1.
Last updated: 9 June
At Alert Level 1, the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and transmission in the community in New Zealand is very low. This means that generally, people can fully participate in society without any COVID-19 related restrictions, however strict border measures will remain.
It’s still important to keep in mind that COVID-19 is uncontrolled in many areas overseas, and we should not be complacent because COVID-19 can spread quickly if it re-emerges.
Using health and disability services at Alert Level 1
People attending a health or disability service may be more vulnerable to COVID-19 for a range of reasons. That is why it is important for health and disability services to continue to maintain infection prevention and control measures, and to collect information from patients and other people interacting with patients at their services.
Health and disability services will be running as normal under Alert Level 1 but some precautions will be in place to protect people who are vulnerable to severe COVID-19 from exposure to the virus.
This will include:
- strict adherence to infection prevention and control protocols;
- and screening on entrance to medical facilities, where staff may ask you if you have been overseas recently, had contact with anyone who has been overseas recently or had any potential recent exposure to COVID-19 such as being a close contact of a confirmed or probable case.
If you need to access healthcare, consider contacting your healthcare provider ahead of time so they can explain any different processes that are in place during Alert Level 1. COVID-19 related precautions are not expected to affect the availability or timeliness of health or disability services.
East Care is separating respiratory patients from non-respiratory to keep our waiting room safe.
Masks are voluntary for patients and you can bring your own or purchase if you wish.
You may see our clinicians still wearing masks so they remain protected as they get in close proximity to patients assessing and treating them so this keeps both you and us safe from both COVID 19 and other respiratory illnesses.
Coronavirus Updates
update: 19 May 2020
Current situation
New Zealand is now at Alert Level 2 — Reduce
The disease is contained, but the risk of community transmission remains.
Risk assessment
- Household transmission could be occurring.
- Single or isolated cluster outbreaks.
Range of measures that can be applied locally or nationally
- People can reconnect with friends and family, and socialise in groups of up to 10, go shopping, or travel domestically, if following public health guidance.
- Keep physical distancing of two metres from people you don’t know when out in public or in retail stores. Keep one metre physical distancing in controlled environments like workplaces, where practicable.
- No more than 10 people at gatherings (to be reviewed 25 May), except funerals and tangihanga, which can have a maximum of 50 people if registered with Ministry of Health.
- Businesses can open to the public if following public health guidance including physical distancing and record keeping. Alternative ways of working are encouraged where possible.
- Hospitality businesses must keep groups of customers separated, seated, and served by a single person. Until 21 May alcohol can only be served when purchasing a meal. Maximum of 100 people at a time.
- Sport and recreation activities are allowed, subject to conditions on gatherings, record keeping, and – where practical – physical distancing.
- Public venues such as museums, libraries and pools can open if they comply with public health measures and ensure 1 metre physical distancing and record keeping.
- Event facilities, including cinemas, stadiums, concert venues and casinos have a limit of 100 customers in each workplace at any time, with 1 metre physical distancing and record keeping.
- Health and disability care services operate as normally as possible.
- It is safe to send your children to schools, early learning services and tertiary education. There will be appropriate measures in place.
- People at higher-risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (e.g. those with underlying medical conditions, especially if not well-controlled, and seniors) are encouraged to take additional precautions when leaving home. They may work if they agree with their employer that they can do so safely.
For more information visit the Ministry of Health website for Coronavirus which is updated regularly.
FOR ANY QUESTIONS CALL HEALTHLINE ON 0800 358 5453
(or +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS)
HealthLine have all the up to date information of what to do with multiple situations.
We request that before you seek any medical attention with any clinic, or have any concerns, to call them first.
Please be assured that at East Care protection of our staff and patients in our waiting room and clinic is our utmost priority. Thus, any potential cases of Coronavirus are isolated and not exposed to the waiting room.
We have all patients masked and a spaced waiting room to avoid any transmission. We are doing audio and video consultations via your phone or computer either here or at home to keep everyone safe. Please try our video consults from home if you think we can help you by keeping you in your bubble.
Staff assessing high risk patients will be required to wear a gown, mask, glasses and gloves. You may need to explain this to young children in advance to avoid them getting frightened.
Thank you for your cooperation in trying to keep this epidemic from spreading:
- Stay away from people with respiratory infections
- Wash your hands frequently
- If you get a cough, do not spread it – cough into a tissue or inside your clothing – and wash hands frequently especially after touching your face
East Care is remaining open 24/7. We are protecting our staff so they can continue to protect the community.
Coronavirus Updates
Update: 14th April 2020
Current situation
With Coronavirus there are currently restrictions on who can enter New Zealand. Travellers who have arrived in New Zealand within the last 14 days are being asked to self-isolate. If you have been overseas within the last 14 days and develop a fever, cough or shortness of breath, call Healthline on 0800 358 5453.
New Zealand is currently at Alert Level 4 – Eliminate
These alert levels specify the public health and social measures to be taken. Nationwide, New Zealand is currently at Level 4 – Eliminate. This means that it is likely that the disease is not contained.
- People instructed to stay at home
- Educational facilities closed
- Businesses closed except for essential services (e.g. supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics) and lifeline utilities
- Rationing of supplies and requisitioning of facilities
- Travel severely limited
- Major re-prioritisation of healthcare services
For more information visit the Ministry of Health website for Coronavirus which is updated regularly.
FOR ANY QUESTIONS CALL HEALTHLINE ON 0800 358 5453
(or +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS)
HealthLine have all the up to date information of what to do with multiple situations.
We request that before you seek any medical attention with any clinic, or have any concerns, to call them first.
Please be assured that at East Care protection of our staff and patients in our waiting room and clinic is our utmost priority. Thus, any potential cases of Coronavirus are isolated and not exposed to the waiting room.
We have all patients masked and a spaced waiting room to avoid any transmission. We are doing audio and video consultations via your phone or computer either here or at home to keep everyone safe. Please try our video consults from home if you think we can help you by keeping you in your bubble.
Staff assessing high risk patients will be required to wear a gown, mask, glasses and gloves. You may need to explain this to young children in advance to avoid them getting frightened.
Thank you for your cooperation in trying to keep this epidemic from spreading:
- Stay away from people with respiratory infections
- Wash your hands frequently
- If you get a cough, do not spread it – cough into a tissue or inside your clothing – and wash hands frequently especially after touching your face
For more information visit the Ministry of Health website for Coronavirus which is updated regularly.
Update: 31st March 2020
East Care is remaining open 24/7. We are protecting our staff so they can continue to protect the community.
Update: 26th March 2020
Current situation
New Zealand has 283 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19. With continued vigilance the chance of widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low.
There are currently restrictions on who can enter New Zealand. Travellers who have arrived in New Zealand within the last 14 days are being asked to self-isolate. If you have been overseas within the last 14 days and develop a fever, cough or shortness of breath, call Healthline on 0800 358 5453.
New Zealand is currently at Alert Level 4 – Eliminate
These alert levels specify the public health and social measures to be taken. Nationwide, New Zealand is currently at Level 4 – Eliminate. This means that it is likely that the disease is not contained.
- People instructed to stay at home
- Educational facilities closed
- Businesses closed except for essential services (e.g. supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics) and lifeline utilities
- Rationing of supplies and requisitioning of facilities
- Travel severely limited
- Major re-prioritisation of healthcare services
For more information visit the Ministry of Health website for Coronavirus which is updated regularly.
Update: 15th March 2020
Countries and areas of concern
People coming into New Zealand should check our information for travellers arriving to New Zealand as all travellers except those listed on the countries and areas of concern under Category 2, will be required to self-isolate. If you arrive in New Zealand before 23:59 pm on Sunday 15 March from any country (except Italy or South Korea) you do not need to self-isolate. If you arrive after 1:00 am on Monday 16 March from any country except those listed on the countries and areas of concern under Category 2 you will need to self-isolate for 14 days.
Category 1a countries and territories
- Mainland China
- Iran
The government has announced temporary restriction on travellers arriving in New Zealand from Category 1a countries and territories as a precautionary measure to protect against the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions prevent foreign nationals travelling from or transiting through Category 1a countries and territories from entering New Zealand. All New Zealand citizens and permanent residents (and close family members) inbound from Category 1a countries and territories are requested to register with Healthline (0800 358 5453) and to undertake 14 days self-isolation starting from the date of the departure from that country or territory.
Category 1b countries and territories
All countries not named in category 1a or 2. This will take effect from 23:59 Sunday 15 March 2020. Category 1b countries and territories do not have travel restrictions in place. People who have been in Category 1b countries and territories are requested to register with Healthline (0800 358 5453) and self-isolate for 14 days starting from the date of departure from a Category 1b country and territory.
Category 2 countries and territories
This will take effect from 23:59 Sunday 15 March 2020.
- Cook Islands
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Nauru
- New Caledonia
- Niue
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
- Tokelau
- Wallis and Futuna
People who have recently travelled from Category 2 countries and territories should be aware of the COVID-19 symptoms. You do not have to self-isolate if you are well. Anyone who develops symptoms within 14 days of departing the Category 2 country and territory should contact Healthline (0800 358 5453).
For more information visit the Ministry of Health website for Coronavirus which is updated regularly.
Update: 11th March 2020
We understand the concerns and uncertainty this virus is causing our staff, patients and community.
Here at East Care we are constantly monitoring the situation. We will ask you for a declaration (see below) about previous travel or close contact with someone diagnosed with the Novel Coronavirus as you enter our premises to ensure the on going safety for everyone. This is just one of the additional infection control processes we have in place.
For more information visit the Ministry of Health website for Coronavirus which is updated regularly.
Update: 6th March 2020
Category 1a countries and territories
- Mainland China
- Iran
The government has announced temporary restriction on travellers arriving in New Zealand from Category 1a countries and territories as a precautionary measure to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
The restrictions prevent foreign nationals travelling from or transiting through Category 1a countries and territories from entering New Zealand.
All New Zealand citizens and permanent residents (and close family members) inbound from Category 1a countries and territories are requested to register with Healthline (0800 358 5453) and to undertake 14 days self-isolation starting from the date of the departure from that country or territory.
Category 1b countries and territories
- Northern Italy (please refer to the map of the specified areas)
- Republic of Korea
Category 1b countries and territories do not have travel restrictions in place. People who have been in Category 1b countries and territories (excluding airport transit) are requested to register with Healthline (0800 358 5453) and self-isolate for 14 days starting from the date of departure from a Category 1b country and territory.
Category 2 countries and territories
- Hong Kong
- Italy (other than northern Italy)
- Japan
- Singapore
- Thailand
People who have recently travelled from Category 2 countries and territories (excluding airport transit) should be aware of the COVID-19 symptoms. You do not have to self-isolate if you are well. Anyone who develops symptoms within 14 days of departing the Category 2 country and territory should contact Healthline (0800 358 5453).
Update: 27th February 2020
1 confirmed case but came from overseas and is currently being contained and treated.
The Ministry of Health’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has this morning revised the case definition for COVID-19. The TAG has updated its advice to include two categories for countries or areas of concern.
People who travel to New Zealand from or via (excluding airport transit) those countries listed in category one in the last 14 days should self isolate for 14 days and contact Healthline.
Anyone who has travelled from or via all countries listed in both categories with clinically compatible symptoms should be considered a suspect of COVID-19 case and testing performed. Category two travellers do not have to routinely self isolate unless they have symptoms and meet the clinical criteria.
Countries or areas of concern (as at 27 February 2020):
Category one: Mainland China People who have travelled from or via from countries in category one in the last 14 days are required to self-isolate for 14 days and contact Healthline after they have left the countries listed.
Category two: Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand.
People who have travelled from or via countries lists in category two who develop symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath should seek medical advice by first phoning Healthline’s dedicated COVID-19 number 0800 358 5453 or contacting their GP including phoning ahead of their visit.
Update: 20th February 2020
There are still no cases in New Zealand. NZ is prepared if a pandemic breaks out with national health stocks of PPE including millions of masks and a NZ manufacturer that can make 1 million a month if needed. These will be distributed if needed.
In China people with coronavirus currently;
- 80% minimal symptoms
- 15% moderate
- 3-5% severe
- 2% mortality (but this is an area of China were the healthcare is not up to our standards)
The mortality in better health care systems is low, evidenced by over 300 on the cruise ship infected and no deaths. The country to screen for is still mainland China.
Why do other countries not have it? Because China has border controls so cases are contained. In countries like Singapore they are not letting people out of isolation. The 14 day self-quarantine still applies. People will be coming from other Asian countries with normal flus and colds, so don’t be concerned unless they come from mainland China or confirmed contact with coronavirus within 14 days currently.
The Ministry of Health will revise their guidelines regularly so look at their site here.
The patient is classified as a suspect case if they satisfy both the epidemiological and clinical criteria.
Epidemiological criteria: Travel to or from (including transit through) mainland China within 14 days before onset of illness, OR close contact (refer close contact section) in 14 days before onset of illness with a confirmed case of COVID-19 infection.
Clinical criteria: Fever or history of fever (≥38°C) and acute respiratory infection with at least one of the following symptoms; shortness of breath, cough or sore throat.
FOR ANY QUESTIONS CALL HEALTHLINE ON 0800 358 5453
(or +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS)
HealthLine have all the up to date information of what to do with multiple situations.
We request that before you seek any medical attention with any clinic, or have any concerns, to call them first.
Please be assured that at East Care protection of our staff and patients in our waiting room and clinic is our utmost priority. Thus, any potential cases of Coronavirus are isolated and not exposed to the waiting room.
If you plan to attend East Care and you have travelled to an affected area, or had contact with a confirmed case of Coronavirus, then please phone us from your car so that we can keep our other patients safe, by assessing you in the vehicle or an isolation room when it is available.
To date in NZ there is NO Coronavirus 2019-nCoV.
In most cases, it causes a flu-like respiratory illness; which can occasionally progress to pneumonia, causing difficulty breathing. Many other colds and flu-like illnesses are indistinguishable from Novel Coronavirus.
There is no specific anti-viral; and no antibiotics will cure this illness. Regardless of the cause, if you have difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly.
For advice, please phone Healthline (0800 611 116) or your usual GP.
If you’ve been in contact with a confirmed case, or have come from China and develop a cold or flu-like illness please stay away from public places, shops and work.
When a patient has mild respiratory symptoms please self-isolate at home or in your accommodation until at least 24 hours following resolution of symptoms.
If you plan to attend East Care…
and you have travelled to an affected area or had contact with a confirmed case of Coronavirus then please phone us from your car so that we can keep our other patients safe, by assessing you in the vehicle.
We are unable to provide a dedicated room to assess all suspected cases, because just one real case, may put at risk everyone else who is assessed in the same room.
Staff assessing high risk patients will be required to wear a gown, mask, glasses and gloves. You may need to explain this to young children in advance to avoid them getting frightened.
Thank you for your cooperation in trying to keep this epidemic from spreading:
- Stay away from people with respiratory infections
- Wash your hands frequently
- If you get a cough, do not spread it – cough into a tissue or inside your clothing – and wash hands frequently especially after touching your face
For more information visit the Ministry of Health website for Coronavirus which is updated regularly.
