The Ministry of Health, today reported no new COVID-19 cases in Hawke’s Bay – the total for the region remains at 38.
Hawke’s Bay District Health Board Medical Officer of Health Dr Rachel Eyre said while no new cases were reported the
region needed to remain vigilant.
“While it’s good news today we need to remain at home and continue to follow the rules. We have had recent examples of
why lockdown is so important and we continue to reinforce those messages -stay at home and if you are unwell ring your
GP or Healthline
“Keep washing your hands regularly, follow strict hygiene and physical distancing rules when exiting your bubble to
collect groceries, and you will continue to protect yourself and your whānau.”
“While we understand people may be anxious in the Flaxmere community, we need to emphasise that the risk is low for
anyone else contracting the disease, and the supermarket owners have done everything right to reduce that risk even
further.
The district health board won’t be providing more details of this case, she said. However, people could be reassured
that public health was working closely with the contacts and contact tracing, and was confident the case was well
contained and there was no wider risk.
Dr Eyre said there had been enormous feedback through social media on this case, much of it was unkind and blaming. “We
remind people to be kind and support their communities and everyone that lives within them - people have this disease
through no fault of their own.”
The Flaxmere General Practice, Totara Health, had also received many calls from people who were well but had visited the
supermarket and were concerned. Dr Eyre said only if you had cold and flu like symptoms did you need to contact a GP or
Healthline, if you were well and had just visited the supermarket there was no need for concern.
There was no-cost for anyone to call their GP or Healthline for an assessment/referral to a Community-Based Assessment
Centre.
It remains important for anyone in Hawke’s Bay who had developed illness, even very mild illness such as a cough, sore
throat, shortness of breath, runny nose or loss of smell and taste, to contact their GP or Healthline on 0800 358 5453
to be tested and remain at home whilst waiting for results.
Today’s Ministry of Health national case updates can be found here.Current Hawke’s Bay COVID-19 numbers: 12 April, 2020
These numbers are updated each afternoon following the Ministry of Health updateConfirmed & probable cases in Hawke’s Bay38Recovered cases in Hawke’s Bay6Current casesRecovered casesHastings district141Wairoa district3Central Hawke’s Bay00Napier215Number of cases in hospital in Hawke’s Bay1Total number of tests in Hawke’s Bay2,020 (11 April)Click here to see national figures on the Ministry of Health website