Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

We made it - welcome to COVID-19 Alert Level 1 in New Zealand.

Thank you all for your cooperation and goodwill over the past three months – it has been a long haul and we appreciate your support and cooperation.

Please give yourselves a pat on the back – you deserve it.

Level 1 means a return to normal activities for all our residents.

Happy hours, group activities, van trips, clubs, exercise and meetings will all be returning to business as usual.

Visits to our care centre residents are also back to normal, with no need to book online nor any time restrictions or limits on the number of people who can visit.

Care centre activities and meal times are also back to their usual routines.

Level 1 does not mean we can relax though. We will continue to be extremely cautious. COVID-19 is likely to be a major threat to the health of everyone for some time to come and rest assured we be in touch quickly if we need to reintroduce restrictions.

Health declarations

We still require that all visitors to the village report to reception to fill out a health declaration.

Visitors who are unwell or running a temperature should postpone their visit.

Face masks are not required to be worn but are available for anyone who wishes to wear them as an extra precaution.

Symptoms to watch out for include:

• a cough
• a high temperature (at least 37.5˚C)
• shortness of breath
• a sore throat
• sneezing and runny nose
• temporary loss of smell

If you have any of these symptoms, we ask that you stay away, contact your GP or call Healthline on 0800 358 5453

We are now entering the normal flu season. Our best defence against the flu, and COVID-19, is personal hygiene, including regular and thorough hand washing.

Viruses such as COVID-19 and the flu are easily spread by close contact with people who have symptoms. You may also get infected if you touch surfaces or objects with droplets and then touch your mouth, nose or eyes.

That’s why it’s important to use good hand hygiene, practise physical distancing if you don’t know someone and stay home if you’re unwell.

This includes regularly washing and drying your hands and coughing or sneezing into a disposable tissue or into your elbow. 

Household logs and the COVID-19 tracing app

We recommend that independent residents keep a log of all contacts. For those with smart phones, it is also recommended that you download the NZ COVID-19 Tracer app, which is an easy way to keep a digital diary wherever you go. The app is available for download at:

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-general-public/contact-tracing-covid-19/nz-covid-tracer-app#download

Mental wellbeing

A reminder that if you need someone to talk to you are welcome to call our OCP counselling service on 0800 377 990. Just let them know you are a Ryman resident and the village you are from.

You can find wellbeing resources online at https://www.rymanhealthcare.co.nz/lifestyle-and-wellness/health-and-wellbeing/isolation-mental-wellbeing

For more general wellbeing advice go to www.rymanhealthcare.co.nz/wellness

The Government’s Golden Rules for Level 1 include:

• If you are sick, stay home. Don’t socialise.
• If you have cold or flu symptoms call your doctor or Healthline and make sure you get tested.
• Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands. And dry them thoroughly.
• Sneeze or cough into your elbow or a tissue and regularly disinfect shared surfaces.
• If you are told to self-isolate you must do so immediately.
• If you are concerned about your wellbeing, or have underlying health conditions, work with your GP to understand how best to stay healthy.
• Keep track of where you have been and who you have been with. Use the NZ CVOID Tracer app as a handy way of doing this. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-general-public/contact-tracing-covid-19/nz-covid-tracer-app#download
• Stay vigilant. There is still a global pandemic going on. People and businesses should be prepared to act fast to step up Alert Levels if we have to.
• People will have had different experiences over the last couple of months. Whatever you’re feeling, it’s okay. Be kind to others. Be kind to yourself.