Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has one simple message for Kiwis - "New Zealanders should act as if they have Covid-19" and stay at home. "Breaking the rules could kill someone close to you."
A probable case of coronavirus has been found at a Napier rest home.
Bupa Villages Managing Director Carolyn Cooper said on Thursday that it had been advised that it had a single probable Covid-19 case in the dementia community at Gladys Mary Rest Home in Napier.
"Our resident is a member of a 14-person community who live in close proximity. To ensure the safety of our residents and staff, the 14-person community has been placed into immediate isolation. Additional infection prevention control measures were immediately put in place, including additional restrictions, equipment and hygiene measures. For additional safety, we are treating the situation as an infection outbreak area."
Gladys Mary Rest Home has a probable case of Covid-19. Photo / Warren Buckland
"We've been in contact with impacted residents' families to offer our support and provide reassurance of how we are continuing to care for their family members. We know that this will be a difficult time for the families, as well as our residents and our team.
"We are establishing which staff members had close contact with the probable resident case. All staff who had close contact with this resident have been asked to go into self-isolation for 14 days from the time of their last contact with our resident. Any staff who had casual contact with the resident have been permitted to continue work by Public Health."
"The team at Gladys Mary is aware of this evolving situation and is committed to continuing to care for our residents. Our team will be using Personal Protective Equipment, including gowns, masks and gloves where required."
The Gladys Mary Rest Home has been shut to all visitors since Tuesday and will remain so, Cooper said.
Prevention control measures were immediately put in place at the rest home. Photo Warren Buckland
"We are working closely with Public Health and the local District Heath Board and continue to follow their advice.
"No other Bupa site is affected by this probable case. We are maintaining our strict infection prevention control protocols, including no visitor access, hand hygiene and physical distancing across all of our sites.
"We recognise this can be a stressful and anxious time for everyone and will provide more information as this situation evolves."
