First confirmed COVID-19 case hospitalised in Taranaki

28 March 2020

A further four people with confirmed COVID-19 have been identified in Taranaki since Friday, including the first person to be hospitalised at Taranaki Base Hospital.

Taranaki now has a total of 11 confirmed cases, including the following new people:

A 55 year old male with recent travel history to Europe
A 26 year old male with recent travel history to the United Kingdom, Dubai and Bali
A 31 year old female with recent overseas travel history
A 71 year old male with recent overseas travel history to the United Kingdom.

Taranaki DHB’s chief medical advisor, Dr Greg Simmons says “One of the cases notified yesterday is currently in hospital receiving treatment.

“All of our cases so far in Taranaki are in people returning home from overseas or are people in household settings who have caught the illness from those who have returned from overseas. There is, as yet, no evidence of community transmission.”

“Our Public Health team has made contact with all of the latest cases and are getting names and contact details for their close contacts.”

However, Dr Simmons warns “Please Taranaki, it's crucial that everyone stays in their bubble. Remain at home. This breaks the chain of infection and stops the virus spreading.”

This announcement follows tighter visitor restrictions which have been put in place across all Taranaki DHB facilities, including Taranaki Base and Hāwera Hospitals. In line with the Government directive to implement the COVID-19 alert level 4 protocol, there is a temporary no-visitors policy with a few exceptions, including:

Neonatal Unit (NNU) and Ward 2B (paediatrics) - one parent/guardian only.
Labour & Maternity wards - one significant other only
One nominated person who is supporting a terminal patient through end-of-life care.

Travel information on these new people with confirmed COVID-19 will be available later today on the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) website https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-cases/covid-19-current-cases-details

ADVICE ON COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

If you are experiencing symptoms please call the dedicated healthline number - 0800 358 5453 or ring ahead to your GP. They will direct you for testing or treatment if necessary.

For more health information please visit the MoH website www.health.govt.nz
For more public-focused all-of-government information please visit https://covid19.govt.nz/

Last updated: Saturday, March 28, 2020