Two more Covid-19 deaths in South Canterbury, 15 in hospital

Two more Covid-19 deaths in South Canterbury, 15 in hospital

Active cases in South Canterbury, July 8, 2022.

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Active cases in South Canterbury, July 8, 2022.

Pressure is being put on an already stretched health system in South Canterbury, as Covid-19 cases rise, with extra beds needed at Timaru hospital.

On Friday, Jason Power, interim district director of Te Whatu Ora Health, New Zealand South Canterbury, confirmed that 15 cases are now in hospital and two more people have died from Covid-19 in South Canterbury in the past week.

That brings the total number of deaths in the region, with Covid, to 25.

“In the past week we unfortunately report two deaths in the South Canterbury district,” said Power.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with their whānau and friends at this sad time. Out of respect, we will not comment further.”

The organization is now publishing Covid figures for the region, weekly, and Friday’s update shows there are now 732 active cases in South Canterbury – up from 579 last Friday.

When asked how the hospital was handling 15 cases at Timaru Hospital, Power said in its pandemic management response plan it had the opportunity to increase the number of beds, as and when needed, for Covid-positive patients.

“We have seen the need for this [beds increasing] the past few days,” he says.

In October 2021, the then South Canterbury District Health Board said: The Timaru Herald it had eight ICU beds and eight ventilators in the hospital, to cope with Covid patients†

The number of hospitalized cases with Covid, as well as the “high number” of positive cases in the community over the past week, meant the hospital was under “significant pressure”, he said.

“Our teams have done an excellent job given the continued high occupancy rate at Timaru Hospital.”

Of Friday’s cases, 76 are in Timaru district, 10 in Waimate district and six in Mackenzie district.

This brings the total number of active cases in the Timaru district to 572, 110 in the Waimate district, 48 in the Mackenzie district and two from unknown locations.

The total number of recovered cases in the region in 2022 is now 17,523.

Vaccination teams will be in the Waimate Rugby Clubrooms on Thursdays, from 10am to 4pm, and Talbot Park, on Otipua Rd, Timaru, from 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Wednesday, to provide free flu shots for tamariki from 3-12 years, pregnant women, people over 65 and Māori and Pacific peoples aged 55-64.

Free MMR vaccines for people born on or after January 1, 1969, who have registered only one, and free Covid vaccines for those over 5, and first and second boosters will also be available in the clinics.

Where to get a Covid-19 test:

Timaru Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) Collection Sites:

  • Moyles Pharmacy: 6 Dee St, Timaru, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Please note, before going to this pick-up site, you must place an order via (requestrats.covid19.health.nz) or by calling 0800 222 478 (option 3).

  • Pharmacy Dee Street: 5 Dee St, Timaru, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Please note, before going to this pick-up site, you must place an order via (requestrats.covid19.health.nz) or by calling 0800 222 478 (option 3).

  • Pharmacy Highfield: 145 Wai-Iti Rd, Highfield, Timaru, Monday-Friday 9:30am-5pm, Saturday 10am-2pm. Please note, before going to this pick-up site, you must place an order via (requestrats.covid19.health.nz) or by calling 0800 222 478 (option 3).

  • Roberts Pharmacy: 45 Heaton St, Timaru, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm. Please note, before going to this pick-up site, you must place an order via (requestrats.covid19.health.nz) or by calling 0800 222 478 (option 3).

Waimate Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) Collection Sites:

  • Waimate Pharmacy: 84 Queen St, Waimate, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Please note, before going to this pick-up site, you must place an order via (requestrats.covid19.health.nz) or by calling 0800 222 478 (option 3).
  • Oak House Medical Center: 161 Queen St, Waimate, (03) 689-7676 (pick up at Gorge Rd entrance), Monday through Friday, 10am to noon and 2pm to 5pm. Please note, before going to this pick-up site, you must place an order via (requestrats.covid19.health.nz) or by calling 0800 222 478 (option 3).

Temuka Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) collection site:

  • Discover the RAT collection site: Hally Tce, Temuka, (near Domain Ave), Sunday to Thursday, (closed Friday and Saturday), 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM.
  • Temuka Pharmacy: 81 King St, Temuka, Monday through Friday, 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Please note, before going to this pick-up site, you must place an order via (requestrats.covid19.health.nz) or by calling 0800 222 478 (option 3).

Geraldine Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) Assembly Site:

  • Geraldine Rugby Club: George St, Sunday to Thursday, (closed Friday and Saturday) from 9am to 11:30am.

Fairlie Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) Collection Site:

  • Fairlie HealthCare Depot: 78 Main St, Fairlie, Monday through Friday, 9am to 5:30pm. Please note, before going to this pick-up site, you must place an order via (requestrats.covid19.health.nz) or by calling 0800 222 478 (option 3).

Twizel Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) Collection Site:

  • MacKenzie Pharmacy, 6-7 Market Pl, Twizel, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, every 2nd Saturday of July 1 from 10am to 2pm. Please note, before going to this pick-up site, you must place an order via (requestrats.covid19.health.nz) or by calling 0800 222 478 (option 3).