He whakaaro noo te Kiingi
Yesterday the government shared more information about its three-phase response to Omicron. In a nutshell, case numbers are expected to grow so quickly that our health system and supply chains will be put under pressure. At different points in the outbreak, there will be different rules around testing and self-isolation, which should help to relieve that pressure.
At the moment we are still in Phase One, meaning that whaanau should still go to a testing centre or their GP if they have any symptoms of COVID-19, or if they are a close contact with a positive case. Close contacts must self-isolate for 10 days, and positive cases for 14 days. By keeping case numbers as low as possible at this stage of the Omicron outbreak, we are giving whaanau the chance to prepare and make sure they're protected, whether that's by getting their boosters or arranging for their tamariki to be vaccinated. Kiingi Tuheitia asks us all to do our part to slow the spread of Omicron, by wearing a proper face mask when leaving the house, keeping our distance from others and where possible, avoiding large crowds and public events.
This hits particularly close to home after we learned today that last weekend's SoundSplash Festival is a location of interest, bringing the Omicron outbreak into the heart of the Waikato-Tainui rohe. We can expect to see case numbers increase rapidly over the coming weeks, making it more important than ever that our whaanau are prepared to self-isolate, and to support those around them.
Our King reminds whaanau to put together a plan about what you will do if someone in your whare is identified as a close contact or tests positive for COVID-19. It's important to set aside time to koorero about your plan and make sure everyone is on the same page. Write your plan down, and make sure you have everything you need to put it into action. This includes reaching out to someone who can support your whaanau by delivering kai and medications while you're self-isolating, and stocking up on essential kai, medications and hygiene products. Click here to access an awesome resource put together by our whaanau at Te Arawa, to learn more about what you can do to make sure your whare and whaanau are ready for self-isolation.
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