With the borders opening and the combination of COVID and FLU, this winter is already affecting our community. We need you to stay well this winter.
We're asking people take the following steps to stay well this winter, and to encourage their whānau, friends and colleagues to do the same:
Stay at home if you are unwell. If you have symptoms of COVID-19() take a COVID-19 test. If your symptoms worsen, or you are concerned about the health of yourself or someone you’re caring for, call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or your doctor/healthcare provider. Calls to Healthline are free and the service operates 24/7 with interpreters available.
Call 111 if you have an emergency. If your situation is less urgent consider calling Healthline on 0800 611 116 or your local GP.
Wear a face mask when on public transport, in indoor settings like retail stores and supermarkets, when in poorly ventilated spaces or when it is hard to physically distance from other people.
Maintain good hand hygiene by washing and drying your hands thoroughly or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
Sneeze or cough into your elbow or a tissue. Avoid touching your face, dispose of tissues in a waste bin immediately and wash or sanitise your hands.
Develop a winter plan for your whānau so family members know what to do if people become unwell. Familiarise yourself with what is expected of you by your employer if you become sick yourself.
Get your Winter Wellness Kit together: eg, painkillers, a thermometer, tissues, enough food and household items for a few days, and a good stock of the regular medicines you or your whānau will need. Honey is helpful to have on hand for a sore throat.
Eat well and stay active. Nutrition and physical activity play an important part in our overall health and wellbeing, including our bodies’ ability to fight off illness. Getting a good night’s sleep also helps.
Make sure you and your whānau are up to date with all available vaccinations against infectious diseases like flu; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); chicken pox; whooping cough (pertussis); pneumococcal diseases and COVID-19.