COVID-19 CEO Update – 17/3/2020

Tēnā koutou katoa,

 

This message is to keep you up to date, as to how Purapura Whetu Trust is responding to the COVID –19 pandemic and how we can work together to keep our communities safe and well. Purapura Whetu intends to continue to support whānau at this time and take safe practical measures to prevent illness.

 

At this stage, we are operating all services as planned, while being vigilant about hygiene measures in our programmes and services.

 

We are constantly reviewing the information provided by the Ministry of Health, and we are taking measures to ensure that we are doing all we can in line with the Ministry of Health guidelines to reduce any infection risk.

 

We are keeping up to date of any further requirements through the CDHB and MoH and will notify you if there are any changes to our services.

 

In response to this situation, we request the following support from you:

• Please inform us immediately and do not participate on our programmes, or allow our staff to visit you, if you or a household family member show signs of any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue and shortness of breath).

• Do not participate in our programmes and inform us immediately if you, or someone you have been in contact with have travelled from overseas within the last 14 days.

 

Further to this we will be doing the following:

• All participants and whanau will be regularly reminded and briefed on the recommended hygiene practices.

• We will not be delivering any close contact activities, including hugging, kissing and hongi.

• We operate predominately in spaces with fresh clean air and we can monitor hygiene on surfaces and with food and utensils.

• Soap and water will be available for use at our sites.

• If anyone develops COVID-19 symptoms in our programmes, they will be sent home and supported to seek medical attention, and the rest of the group will be monitored and supported to seek medical attention if required.

• Food preparation surfaces will be regularly wiped down.

 

 

REMEMBER:

• To prevent the spread, it is important that everyone knows to ring ahead of their visit to the doctor if they think they might have COVID-19 and tell them about their personal situation/symptoms. This way, their doctors can put plans in place to manage their visit.

• Self-isolation remains one of the most important tools in the fight against COVID-19. We are working to scale up our support for the increased number of people who will be in self-isolation and ensuring they have adequate support and information to do it successfully and safely.

• The Ministry of Health website is the official channel for COVID-19 communications: https://www.health.govt.nz/…/dis…/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

• The dedicated COVID-19 health queries Healthline number is 0800 358 5453 for people who are unwell and think they may have COVID-19, and/or people who are registering self-isolation after returning from overseas.

If you have any further questions; please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

 

Ngā mihi,
Karaitiana Tickell
Te Kaiwhakahaere – Chief Executive Officer
Purapura Whetu Trust
Phone: 03 379 8001
Email: karaitiana@pw.maori.nz