August 17 2021
Auckland and Coromandel will go into level 4 lockdown for seven days – and the rest of the country for three days – from 11.59pm tonight.
A Lakes District Health Board spokeswoman said all elective and outpatient services had been cancelled as a result of the nationwide lockdown.
At this stage, the services are cancelled for the rest of the week and will be rescheduled.
"Dialysis and chemotherapy treatments will continue as a critical service.
"Dental clinic appointments in the Community Oral Health Service have also been cancelled for the next three days and community mental health clinics have been cancelled for three days, with urgents [sic] seen where possible."
Covid-19 testing stations are in action across Rotorua and Taupō. Photo / NZME
Visitor restrictions have also been put in place. No visitors will be allowed on hospital grounds aside from a birthing partner, a parent or guardian for a childer under 14 years of age and two visitors to a patient receiving end of life care. STORY CONTINUES AFTER BLOG
STORY CONTINUES "Patients needing to come to Rotorua Hospital enter through the main entrance and at Taupō Hospital, entry for the public is via the Emergency Department. People who do have to come into the hospitals will be asked some simple health questions and will need to wear a mask," the spokeswoman said.
"As mentioned by the Prime Minister, there will be no Covid-19 vaccinations for the next two days while the Ministry of Health ensures they can take place in a safe environment. A further update on vaccinations will be coming in the next 24 hours."
Covid-19 testing stations in Rotorua and Taupō are operating from 9am to 3pm.
All four new cases announced this morning have the Delta variant of Covid-19 and are linked to the Devonport case which sparked the lockdown.
One of the new cases is a fully vaccinated nurse at Auckland Hospital.
Health officials are making immediate moves to try to reduce the risk of an outbreak at the hospital.
The new cases include a co-worker of the initial Devonport case and three close contacts of the co-worker, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said.
Nurses across the country were prepared to strike on Thursday but it has been called off.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation industrial services manager Glenda Alexander said people's health and wellbeing had to remain their number one priority.
