COVID-19 information

Our health authorities are working quickly to trace everyone who has been in close and casual contact with the positive cases. If this is you, they will contact you and advise you on next steps.

If you are in Auckland and have any cold or flu-like symptoms, you should get a COVID-19 test. You can get a free test at:

• at your doctor – please phone ahead to make an appointment
• at a community testing clinic

If you are unsure if you should get a test, call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453.

• Wear a mask and gloves
• Take a form of photo ID for every person you are with who is getting tested
• Bring your NHI number with you (if you know it)
• Please be patient

• Go to your hospital appointments unless the service contacts you to reschedule. Our hospitals are very safe to attend
• Pharmacies remain open
• Family doctors remain open
• Urgent care clinics will remain open

There are a number of simple but effective ways you can keep your family safe. These include:

• Stay home
• If you have symptoms: fever, runny nose, a cough, loss of taste or smell, please get a COVID-19 test
• Wear a mask when you are out in public (more information of masks can be found below)
• Keep track of where you have been
• Wash your hands regularly
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow

You can find more information on keeping safe on the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) and Unite Agains COVID-19 websites.

There are two types of masks available – non-medical masks and medical masks.

Most people can use non-medical-grade masks. These masks prevent the wearer from spreading diseases to others and could help protect the wearer from becoming infected.

Non-medical-grade masks can be either single-use or reusable.

• A single-use mask can only be worn once, and you should throw it away after wearing it.
• Reusable masks can be washed and reused.

You can buy non-medical-grade masks online or in shops like pharmacies, supermarkets and hardware stores.

You can make your own masks. Find out how at cdc.gov.

At Alert Level 2 and higher, people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should use medical-grade masks to help prevent infection.

When you wear a face mask, it's important you use it safely.

Never share face masks with other people. Face masks should not be worn by:

• young children or people who could not remove them without assistance
• people who have trouble breathing.

For more information on how to put on a face mask safely, what to remember while wearing a mask and how to take it off safely, please visit the Unite Against COVID-19 website.

Yes. Staying healthy is important so you should continue to seek healthcare during Alert Level 3. During Alert Level 3, healthcare services, such as Healthline, GPs, cancer services, disability and aged support services remain open.

Some planned care, including elective surgery and radiology, will be provided. Some non-urgent services or treatment may be deferred.

If you have received a medical appointment you should attend.

If you are concerned about any aspect of your health, call your GP.

As always, if you require urgent medical advice, call 111.

It’s normal to feel anxious and stressed during times of uncertainty. The COVID-19 website has plenty of advice on looking after your mental wellbeing.

If you need support with anxiety, distress or mental wellbeing, you can call or text 1737 to talk with a trained counsellor for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can talk to counsellors in languages other than English.

You can also contact the Asian Family Services. They are a nationwide mental health and addiction service that provides free and confidential support in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai and Hindi. Phone 0800 862 342 from 9am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. For further information, visit the Asian Family Services website.

Health authorities are using genome testing as part of their work in finding the source of the infection. By using genome testing, scientists can compare different strains of COVID-19 and find out.