2 April 2020

The Ministry of Health has announced one more confirmed case and one probable case of COVID-19 in the Whanganui Region. 

 
Both people are in the Whanganui District.  

They returned from the Philippines on 19 March 2020, flew to Whanganui on 20 March 2020 and have been in isolation since then. Contact tracing is underway. 

The couple have been fully compliant with quarantine requirements. The person with the confirmed case does not need hospitalisation. 

Public health staff will be in daily contact with the couple, who are self-isolating together in one house, to provide them with welfare checks, food and essential supplies. 

Three other confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Whanganui region, in the Ruapehu District, on Saturday 28 March 2020. These people also complied with quarantine requirements and are being monitored and supported by public health staff.

Whanganui District Health Board Chief Executive Russell Simpson says the Whanganui Region has done well in following the Level 4 Alert restrictions, keeping to their ‘bubble’ and adhering to the two metre rule, but encourages people to stay vigilant. 

“I want to reiterate to the community how vitally important it is that people stay at home so we can contain COVID-19, especially now with one more confirmed case in our region.”

Mr Simpson says the emergency response is well prepared, with trained people managing cases to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to protect the health of people in our region. 

“The community has been doing a great job, staying home and only leaving for essential services, but we especially urge people not to move in and out of our region. We hope this will help keep numbers of cases low and minimise the impact of COVID-19 on people and whānau in the Whanganui Region, especially older people and those with other health conditions.” 

Need assistance during the lockdown  

• For Whanganui call 06 3490001 -- this line operates 8am to 5pm with an after-hours response after that.  
• For Ruapehu south (Waimarino) call 06 3858364 – this line operates 24/7.  

For more information    

•  To keep up to date with local information about important health services in the Whanganui Region visit www.facebook.com/whanganuidhb/ or www.wdhb.org.nz    
• Te Ranga Tupua Collective Iwi Response – phone 0800 202 004 for help, advice and support for whānau in the Whanganui, Rangitīkei, Ruapehu, Otaihape and South Taranaki Region   
• For national information visit health.govt.nz/covid-19  or covid19.govt.nz    

 If you are unwell

• Phone the COVID-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453.   
•  If you are going to your general practice (GP) - phone first.   
•  If you are so unwell you need to come to Whanganui Hospital’s emergency department  –please phone first.