Well done everyone in adhering to the tikanga hauora and alert level rules – these are critically important if we want to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep our communities safe.

As the Prime Minister announced yesterday afternoon, there are a total of seven cases of COVID-19 in the community. All cases are being transferred safely to a Tāmaki Makaurau isolation facility, under strict infection prevention and control procedures, including the use of full PPE.

You can still check out the locations of interest on the MinHealth website. Please make sure to review this list if you’ve been in Tāmaki Makaurau or the Coromandel recently. Remind your friends and whānau to do so as well.

Here are the latest updates received regarding tangihanga, face coverings, testing, and the COVID-19 vaccination rollout -

Tangihanga at Alert Level 4

• To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, gathering for public funerals and tangihanga is not permitted while New Zealand is at Alert Level 4.

• Bereaved whānau from all cultures and backgrounds will find this time challenging, particularly those living in Tāmaki Makaurau or the Coromandel. This makes it even more important to show each other manaakitanga and aroha.

• If someone in your whānau or in your bubble passes away, the following steps can help you make the necessary arrangements:

o Contact the health provider/doctor of the person who has passed away — ideally this should be done by someone in the same bubble.

o Get in touch with a local funeral director who will help you organise next steps.

• Funeral directors will continue working during Alert Level 4. They will be able to guide you on the best options for your situation, which may include:

o livestreaming services on social media, or videoing them for later viewing

o holding the funeral or tangi after the Alert Level 4 restrictions ease

o holding a memorial service later, when restrictions on hui are lifted and it is safe to do so.

• If at any point you feel you need help, please reach out. You can call or text 1737. It's free, anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to talk with a trained counsellor.

• You can read the full guidance on tangihanga at Alert Level 4 on the website.

Wearing face coverings now mandatory in most public places at Alert Level 4

• Face coverings are now mandatory for all people (employees and customers) at businesses and services operating at Alert Level 4, involving customer contact.

• This includes supermarkets, pharmacies, and petrol stations.

• Face coverings remain mandatory:

o on public transport and at departure points, e.g., train stations and bus stops

o on flights

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

o for visitors to healthcare facilities.

• Current exemptions for face coverings remain including for people aged under 12 or with illness, conditions or disabilities that make wearing them unsuitable.

Testing

· Please regularly check out the locations of interest on the website. If you have been at any of these locations of interest, please self-isolate and call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice on what to do.

· If you have cold and flu symptoms, you can also call Healthline to ask for advice. Engari, please refrain from calling them for general COVID inquiries. We need to make sure whânau who need clinical advice can get through.

· To find your local testing station, go to healthpoint.co.nz. Their locations are regularly updated.

· We know that on the first few days of testing it can take time for systems to be stood up and queues can be long. Please prepare to be in a queue for some time –wear a mask, take food and water with you, take a book to read or something to watch and please be patient and kind. Our kaimahi are doing their best at testing stations.

Update on the COVID-19 vaccination rollout

• Our COVID-19 vaccination programme paused on Tuesday to allow DHBs to begin implementing their contingency plans as the emerging situation of the community case was assessed.

• From 8am today (Thursday) the vaccination programme will resume throughout Aotearoa. There will be some differences. With vaccination sites operating under alert level 4 conditions the physical distancing requirements and other safety measures mean our capacity will be reduced.

• This means we may need to postpone some appointments. If we need to postpone your appointment you will be contacted by the Ministry of Health, your DHB or healthcare provider.

• If you don’t hear from us, please come to your appointment as scheduled.

• Part of becoming accredited as a COVID-19 vaccination site was to have a signed-off continency plan for operating under alert level 4. This means we are well placed to restart the vaccine rollout in a way that is safe for whānau and for staff.

• Yesterday the 40+ age band opened so any whânau in that age band can visit bookmyvaccine.nz to make their bookings. You can also book your whānau when you are eligible, to make a whānau booking call 0800 28 29 26.

• We encourage whānau to take up the invitation to book in your vaccine.

Can whānau who’ve been vaccinated still get COVID?

· Being fully vaccinated gives our whānau a high degree of protection against Delta infection, and an even higher degree of protection against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death.

· Two doses of the Pfizer vaccine is 88% effective at preventing you from getting ill due to Delta infection, and 96% effective at preventing you from getting hospitalised due to Delta infection.

· In short, if you’re fully vaccinated, you’re less likely to catch COVID, and if you do get infected, you’re less likely to get really sick or die.

· Taking other precautions, like maintaining our tikanga hauora, will remain important if we want to keep our whānau and communities safe.

For more information on Alert Level 4 visit the Unite Against COVID-19 website.