Message from Dr Ashley Bloomfield Kiaa ora koutou, Recent community cases in Auckland and Wellington, and those among border and MIQ workers, have highlighted the importance of continued vigilance in our border settings. In all these cases, ESR genome sequencing has directly linked the source of transmission to the border. Testing advice for Auckland and the rest of New Zealand Following the recent cases in the community, anyone with cold or flu symptoms in Auckland – and the rest of New Zealand – should get a test and stay at home until they have a negative test result. We are also asking anyone who was in Auckland CDB at locations of interest related to the Auckland cases, between 3 November and 12 November inclusive, to get a test, regardless of symptoms. Further information on the locations of interest and a full list of testing sites is available on the Auckland Regional Public Health Service website. This is an enhanced surveillance tactic to ensure we are not missing any cases who may be asymptomatic. General advice for 16-29 November For the next fortnight, we’ll continue to focus testing people at highest risk of exposure and we also ask that you continue to focus on symptomatic people and reducing barriers to access, for Māori and Pacific communities in particular. Testing rates for Māori (as measured by test numbers per 1,000 population) remain below non-Māori in most areas. Anyone with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should be tested as a priority, and anyone hospitalised with a severe acute respiratory infection should be tested for SARSCoV-2, irrespective of region. As always, the assessment and testing for COVID-19 is at no cost to individuals. Thank you again for the important part you play in supporting the health and well-being of New Zealanders. We appreciate your continued partnership in our response.
Dr Ashley Bloomfield Director-General of Health
Testing Strategy l COVID-19 Health System Response l Ministry of Health