Hawke's Bay's emergency coordination centre activated over Covid-19

Ian Macdonald, right, said Civil Defence had activated its new emergency coordination centre in Hastings to support the DHB. Photo / File

The Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group [HBCDEM] is ready to support the Hawke's Bay District Health Board in case Covid-19 reaches the region.

Group manager Ian Macdonald said the group had activated its emergency coordination centre to support the DHB, which on Monday put its emergency response structure in place to prepare and respond to the pandemic.

Macdonald said the group was focusing on planning to provide welfare services to people who didn't need health services but might need help in other ways.

"The DHB is understandably extremely busy right now planning and preparing for a possible community outbreak, so we will be stepping in to ease the burden on health services," Macdonald said.

"We're building on the work we started in late January by developing more detailed plans to support people who need it – but we also need our community to play their part by looking after each other as much as possible.

"We can all do our bit to reduce the demands on our health service, by working out with our family and friends on how we can all look after each other."

He encouraged businesses and individuals to continue planning in case the virus started to be transmitted within the community.

"People should think about what they need to do if they had to be in self-isolation for two weeks. Are you set up to do online shopping? Can a friend drop things at your door? Think about medications, as well as food, pet food and other essential supplies."

Macdonald said the group was co-ordinating with other agencies to help meet the basic needs of people who were struggling.

"We know it's all too easy to say, 'just order your groceries online', or 'work from home – you'll be fine'. But for some people in self-isolation, it's just not that simple.

"While most people will be able to manage self-isolation on their own or with help from their family and friends, we're putting plans in place to help those who really need it."

Macdonald said maintaining community connections was especially important for people who must self-isolate.

"Everyone, sick or healthy, stays in better spirits knowing they are part of a community."

He said the group was also making contingency plans in case a different emergency was to arise while the community was dealing with a pandemic.

"We know that other emergencies can happen at any time, so we're working on how we can respond to any other event while the region may be affected by Covid-19."

The HBCDEM building cost $1.5 million, and its role is to act as a control centre for agencies in times of emergency.

It has an IL4 rating which means it is able to withstand a one in 2500 year seismic event, and the building can be tailored for specific incidents to ensure effective response to, and recovery from, emergencies.