Bay of Plenty Times
  • Bay of Plenty Times home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport

Locations

  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Katikati
  • Tauranga
  • Mount Maunganui
  • Pāpāmoa
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Covid 19 coronavirus: First positive Tauranga case describes having virus

Bay of Plenty Times
8 Apr, 2020 02:27 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

There are 50 new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand - the lowest daily total reported in a fortnight.

The first Covid-19 positive patient treated and discharged from Tauranga Hospital has praised healthcare staff for the "wonderful and superb care".

The patient, who cannot be named for privacy reasons, has now returned home.

They said they wanted to "shout from the rooftop" about the wonderful care received while in hospital.

"I'm in awe of the care I got. The nurses, the doctors, everyone was just wonderful, simply superb, so lovely and funny as well.

NeedToKnow3
NeedToKnow3
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It helped brighten my days and certainly helped with my recovery. My heartfelt thanks go to them all, they're all heroes in my mind. I mean how do you thank people for having a life? It could so easily have gone the other way," the patient said.

Clinical nurse manager Traci Adams said the care the patient received was a whole-of-team-effort.

"We are thrilled that the patient has recovered and is now able to return home," Adams said.

Meanwhile, the patient urged people to take Covid-19 seriously and to heed all the lockdown precautions to help fight its spread.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It is so serious and it just creeps up on you, it's insidious. If my symptoms are anything to go by, it is very hard to identify and it takes quite a while to manifest itself. It took quite a few days before my temperature went up to 38C for example."

The patient said the onset of Covid-19 was characterised by feeling "desperately tired".

"I recall feeling listless, I was drifting really, not consciously thinking about anything. And I gradually lost my appetite until I just wasn't eating. My doctor said I should get tested and a couple of days later it came back positive."


• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website

Discover more

How Tauranga churches are staying connected and worshipping in lockdown

08 Apr 08:00 PM
Education

'Children will be going hungry': Support rolls out for city's vulnerable kids

13 Apr 07:00 AM

Lockdown DIY: Top tips for decluttering your wardrobe

16 Apr 12:00 AM

Police seize drugs, cash

08 Apr 04:40 AM

While in hospital the patient said they "lost track of time" and was still unsure about how many days they had been hospitalised.

They said the seriousness of their situation though had been brought home to them by the conversations they had family members about their wishes.

They were now relieved to be back home with that family.

"Even when the doctors said I had turned the corner I was still very cautious," the patient said.

"I'm beginning to get my strength back a bit now but the doctors say it will probably be another three weeks or so before I'll be feeling anything like normal.

"My appetite and sense of taste have not returned yet. I might be able to taste the first mouthful of anything I eat but not after that, then I'm really just eating because I know it's fuel."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Bay of Plenty Times

Police warn gangs after major drug operation

18 Jun 06:04 AM
Bay of Plenty Times

'Life-changing': International flights return to Hamilton Airport

18 Jun 05:23 AM
Bay of Plenty Times

Police deal blow to Greazy Dogs' meth production

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Police warn gangs after major drug operation

Police warn gangs after major drug operation

18 Jun 06:04 AM

Police arrested 20 Greazy Dogs members over alleged meth crimes in Bay of Plenty.

'Life-changing': International flights return to Hamilton Airport

'Life-changing': International flights return to Hamilton Airport

18 Jun 05:23 AM
Police deal blow to Greazy Dogs' meth production

Police deal blow to Greazy Dogs' meth production

'I hate him': Partner of slain Tribesman lays blame for death at president's feet

'I hate him': Partner of slain Tribesman lays blame for death at president's feet

18 Jun 03:00 AM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Bay of Plenty Times e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Bay of Plenty Times
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP