Preparing for Omicron at Ruatahi Medical:

(07) 348 3002 — Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM

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Kia ora koutou,

As you are undoubtedly aware, all of New Zealand is now at Red in preparation for Omicron. Here’s a quick reminder on what that means for your health care:

Health and medical facilities (such as medical practices and pharmacies) are an essential service.
We remain open at all traffic light settings — Red, Orange and Green. However, our practice has safety measures in place to protect our community.
If you require any medical assistance, please phone our practice first.
All patients will be screened during their initial phone call to determine their next steps. Please do not turn up unannounced.

Omicron is more transmissible than previous strains of COVID-19 and will be harder to control once it spreads in the community. With this in mind, please be patient when dealing with our team. We expect to be busier than usual. The way we operate will also continually evolve to keep everyone safe.

Finally, there’s no reason to panic. Let’s keep up the kindness, keep looking after each other, and do what it takes to get through together (again).

If you need to talk, check-in with a friend or whānau member, or call/text 1737 to chat with a trained counsellor. It’s free and confidential.

Ngā mihi,
The Ruatahi Medical Centre Team

New Zealand’s Response to Omicron

The COVID-19 variant Omicron is in the community. As a result, there will be three phases to New Zealand's Omicron response:

Phase 1 — There are some cases of COVID-19 in the community, but we continue to stamp it out. We are currently in this phase.

Phase 2 — Cases have spread in the community, so we need to minimise and slow transmission to protect our vulnerable communities.

Phase 3 — There are thousands of cases per day. Most people will be able to look after themselves at home. Health and social services will focus on those who need the most help.

Testing, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine requirements slightly differ across the three phases. You can learn more about each on the Unite against COVID-19 website.

Is Your Household Ready if Someone Gets COVID-19?

Whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, everyone should prepare for what you need to do if you get COVID-19.

Being ready for getting COVID-19 is about making sure you and your household have a plan and know what to do. It will mean your whānau and community can help each other if needed.

1) Make a plan

You need to work out what you will do if someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19 — the entire household will need to stay home.

Identify people outside of your home who could help if your household is isolating, for example, by dropping off food or supplies. Services like The Student Volunteer Army can help with drop-offs, and Work and Income might help with costs.

Learn more here.

2) Have what you need

Work out what you will need to help yourself and those around you. For example:

Make a list of whānau information
Gather things you enjoy
Put together a wellness kit
Make sure you have something to help you with COVID-19 symptoms

Learn more here.

3) Know and share your plan

Make sure the people who matter know what they will need to do.

Have a house meeting, so everyone (including younger ones) knows what to do, how to support each other and who to contact if someone gets sick or has to go to the hospital. Share your plan with wider whānau, neighbours and regular manuhiri/visitors and talk to them about what you will need them to do and how you can help each other.

4) Reach out to friends and whānau

We are all in this together, and we will get through together. Stay connected, support your friends, whānau and workmates, and find out what your community is doing. Learn more here.

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Ruatahi Medical Centre
Weekdays — 8:30 AM to 5 PM
Weekends & Public Holidays — closed

1271 Hinemoa Street,
Rotorua, Bay Of Plenty 3010

(07) 348 3002
reception@ruatahi.co.nz

www.ruatahimedical.nz

Please dial 111 in emergencies.