COVID-19 care in the community

With COVID-19 now in the region contact tracers have worked tirelessly over Christmas to find people who may have been exposed after three Tairāwhiti residents were diagnosed with the virus last week.

Hauora Tairāwhiti acting chief executive Carl McDonald says COVID-19 is now in Gisborne and contact tracers have responded quickly to limit its spread.

“When a person tests positive for the virus a team of dedicated individuals known as contact tracers is running a race each day - a combination of a sprint, relay, and a marathon, to limit the spread of the virus.”

“I want to personally thank them for working through Christmas and Boxing Day, and also thank everyone they have spoken to, who, despite the time of the year are all cooperating and helping us curb the spread of infection.”

“I would also like to acknowledge and thank iwi who have mobilized to support whānau.”

Two Tairāwhiti residents were diagnosed with COVID-19 on Christmas Eve and moved into supported isolation quarantine.

Since then, 74 COVID-19 tests have been sent to the laboratory for sampling. The results are expected today [Monday 27 December 2021].  

Household contacts of the two positive cases remain in home isolation. They were tested on Friday and will be tested again today. [Monday 27 December 2021].

There are no new places of interest to report as contact tracers know where the two positive cases have been and who they were with. Those people are being contacted.

Mr McDonald says the pair in isolation are showing signs of the illness and are being well taken care of. They are receiving guidance and advice from their general practitioner and wraparound support by Takatu Hub staff. Their household contacts are also being supported.

“Obviously this has been a challenging time for the family involved. Once again, we thank them for doing the right thing and getting tested,” says Mr McDonald. “The messages of love and aroha we have received for the whānau during this time have been passed on.”

A person with COVID-19 who normally lives in Gisborne but travelled out of the district on Saturday 18 December remains in Tauranga Hospital.

Anyone feeling unwell or who is a contact of the three positive cases can get tested for COVID-19 at the drive-through testing station 110 Peel St, Gisborne, 9am-12 noon, Monday to Friday.

Anyone with flu-like symptoms must self-isolate ahead of getting the test and while they wait for the test result. The most important message of all is to get vaccinated. You can get vaccinated at:

  • The Community Vaccination Centre, 295 Palmerston Rd, Gisborne, Wednesday 29 December - Friday 31 December, 10am-4pm, and Wednesday 4 January - Sunday 9 January 2022, 10am-4pm.
  • Ruatoria Community Health Centre, 1 Tuparoa Rd, Ruatoria, Wednesday 5 January- Friday 7 January 2022, 9am-12 noon.

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