Ward 4 in Tauranga Hospital has been cleared out in preparation for a Covid conversion. Photo / Supplied
Ward 4 in Tauranga Hospital has been cleared out in preparation for a Covid conversion. Photo / Supplied
The Bay of Plenty District Health Board is preparing for the "imminent" arrival of Covid-19 in the region.
Tauranga Hospital is increasing its capacity to take Covid-19 patients, converting ward 4 into a Covid ward.
Construction started yesterday and was expected to be done by Christmas.
Intensive care resources arealso being stepped up. Six additional doctors have been appointed and a negative-pressure area for Covid patients created, which pumps infected air straight out rather than through the hospital.
In a strongly-worded opinion piece for the Bay of Plenty Times, health board chief executive Pete Chandler says the next few weeks are "critical" to increase vaccination uptake in the region.
People who decide not to be vaccinated must consider how they will keep their family safe when Covid is in the community, he says.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board chief executive Pete Chandler. Photo / George Novak
In an interview yesterday, Chandler said Covid-19 was "gradually spreading out" from Auckland, prompting a "real urgency" to get vaccinated.
"It really does feel like it's spread faster than we would have liked in balance with rates of vaccination."
Chandler said everyone needed to "play their part" and get vaccinated as part of their "collective community responsibility".
Te Kaha on the East Coast was the highest vaccinated community in the Bay: 92 per cent of people had received their first vaccination, and 76 per cent were fully vaccinated.
The "stand-out" rate was due to the way iwi leaders and the health team had worked with their community, he said.
Chandler said the rates were "an example of excellence that we just wish we could replicate everywhere".
Cancer patient Tracy Barr-Smith pictured in 2018. Photo / NZME
Meanwhile, Tauranga cancer patient Tracy Barr-Smith said she was "extremely worried" about Delta.
The 51-year-old is receiving ongoing treatment for cancer and is immunocompromised. She was concerned the medical system would be overrun by people needing treatment who were not vaccinated, if Delta arrived in Tauranga.
"If I needed to be hospitalised and there's Covid-19 in the community, they're going to prioritise people," she said, in her opinion.
Barr-Smith said people needed to understand the "seriousness" of Covid-19.
"We're depending on everyone to do their part and get their vaccines to keep us safe so that we can be treated when we need to be treated in the hospital and not by a health system that's faltering because too many people are getting Covid because they're not vaccinated.
"Even with my health status I went and got vaccinated because it will do more to me by not being vaccinated and getting this illness than any potential side effects from the vaccine."
Chandler said he "completely" understood her concern.
"The risk of the system being overrun - it is a real risk that we face across all of the country."
"All we can do is to really encourage people to grab this opportunity and really encourage a big surge and push in our vaccination rates in the Bay."
"We won't be judging Covid patients differently from any other patients.
"Clinical professionals and doctors make decisions every day on who are the sickest people that need the greatest levels of care.
"We need to be very careful that we don't label Covid-19 patients as a special category because we just have to assess everybody on their unique needs, whatever they are."
The Port of Tauranga says it operated with Covid precautions at all times - even at alert levels 1 and 2. Photo / George Novak
A Port of Tauranga spokesperson said: "We would have to close the port if we were unable to operate safely for any reason".
"However, Port of Tauranga is New Zealand's busiest port and international gateway. For the wellbeing of all New Zealanders, we need to do everything we can to keep cargo moving."
The port was "assessing the increased risks" posed by the Delta variant in different roles and would consult with staff about necessary protections.
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley. Photo / George Novak
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley said it was "a matter of time" before Tauranga learned to live to Covid-19.
"As more people get double vaccinated, the sooner many are willing to start living with Covid-19," he said.
"The demand for MIQ spots proves that New Zealanders want to stay connected with the world. That includes Kiwis coming home to visit family, athletes needing to travel to maintain their livelihoods, and businesses trying to attract overseas skilled labour.
"The only thing holding us back from reconnecting with the world is our relatively low vaccination rates, as the Prime Minister has stated."
Cowley said people needed to get vaccinated, especially to help local businesses such as hops, eateries and entertainment venues as the festive season arrives.
Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Oscar Nathan. Photo / Supplied
Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Oscar Nathan said if the elimination strategy was no longer viable, "we need to embrace the reality of living with it" just like countries overseas had.
Nathan said getting vaccinated was "the most feasible way" to protect ourselves, our whānau and our country. It would also help tourism and hospitality sectors to "get moving again".
Tauranga City Council commission chairwoman Anne Tolley said elimination was always going to be an interim strategy and vaccination was the way forward for the community and New Zealand.
"The statistics are clear – the people who suffer the worst effects of Covid infection are unvaccinated," she said.
"Vaccination is easy, it's free and it helps to protect us, our families and friends, so if you haven't already done so, get your first shot now."
