Altogether 2,352 COVID-19 tests have been competed in South Canterbury as at the 10 May 2020. Of the 2,352 tests completed 0.68% have been positive and 99.32% have been negative.
All of the targeted testing and community surveillance results received up to the 10 May have been negative.
The South Canterbury DHB has performed targeted testing focusing on the below:
- Health care workers working in aged care facilities
- Health Care workers from the COVID-19 Testing Clinic and COVID-19 Ward
- Essential workers
- Maori and Pacific people
The South Canterbury DHB also held a pop-up community testing clinic in the Mackenzie Country for anyone, with or without COVID-19 symptoms to get tested.
“With the move to Alert Level 2 on Thursday, we will need to be even more vigilant because more people will be circulating in South Canterbury. We must stick to physical distancing rules, and continue to practice good hand hygiene by washing hands for 20 seconds and drying them well and remember to sneezing into your arm, and not touching your face”, says Nigel.
How to protect yourself and prevent the spread of COVID-19
South Canterbury DHB continues to remind the public that the best way they can help with the COVID-19 response is to:
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow or by covering your mouth and nose with tissues
- Wash your hands with soap and water often (for at least 20 seconds) and dry thoroughly
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell (stay at least 2 metres away)
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
- Avoid personal contact with sick people, such as kissing and sharing cups or food
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs
- If you’re sick, stay home. Don’t go to work or school. Don’t socialise
- Practice low-touch shopping. Do not handle things you are not buying, keep your distance, be aware of how you are touching things like bank cards, money, ATMs and Eftpos machines. Wash your hands after touching things like this as soon as you can
- We are all in this together and it is important as a community we remember to be kind to each other, and to check up on friends, family and neighbours, by using the phone, online messaging, or just chatting over the fence while following the physical distancing guidelines of a safe two-metre distance.
- Practice physical distancing, when you know the people around you well and can recall who they are (in case needed for contact tracing purposes), you should maintain a distance of at least 1 metre. When you don't know the people around you - such as out in public or at a supermarket - you should maintain a distance of at least 2 metres as an extra precaution
Media contact:
Karen Berry
Communications Manager
South Canterbury District Health Board
P: 03 687 2395 | M: 021 139 7442
kberry@scdhb.health.nz