Covid-19 Updates Staff

COVID-19 UPDATE: Alert Level 2 extension – Bay of Plenty & Waikato regions

Dear CHT staff,

The Prime Minister has confirmed this afternoon that the Alert Level 2 restrictions will remain in place in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions for at least two more weeks.

In-person visits between residents and their loved ones is proving to be very popular, along with our new online booking system. Thank you for working with our families to keep these visits safe for everyone.

In line with keeping residents and staff safe, we also continue with our check in process and health check, physical distancing, mask wearing and hand hygiene during Alert Level 2. Please remember that if you, or anyone in your household is unwell with symptoms or at home waiting for a COVID-19 test result, please do not come to work, and contact your Unit Manager immediately.

Thank you again for all your co-operation and hard work and we will keep you updated on alert level developments.

Carriann Hall
Chief Executive
CHT Healthcare Trust

COVID-19 UPDATE: Alert Level 3 – Auckland CHT locations

Dear CHT staff,

I am getting in touch with you to confirm the Prime Minister’s announcement today that the Auckland region will move down into Alert Level 3 on Wednesday 22 September for at least two weeks.

In an abundance of caution to protect the safety and health of our staff and residents, visiting remains suspended during Alert Level 3, with the exemption for residents who are receiving palliative or end of life care and with prior agreement from the Unit Manager.

Thanks to all of you for continuing to vigilantly follow all advice from the Ministry of Health around precautions we need to take to keep our staff and residents safe, including social distancing, hand hygiene, wearing masks and gloves, extra cleaning and cohorting of residents and staff where possible.

I also want to stress to you the importance of staying at home if you, or someone in your household, is unwell or has cold and flu symptoms. Please do not come to work if this situation happens to you, and call your Unit Manager.

Carriann Hall
Chief Executive
CHT Healthcare Trust

COVID-19 UPDATE: Alert Level 4 extension – Auckland region

Tēnā kotou katoa CHT staff,

I am reaching out to you following the Prime Minister’s announcement that the Alert Level 4 restrictions will continue for one more week in the Auckland region.

All CHT facilities in Auckland will therefore remain in Alert Level 4 until Wednesday 22 September at this stage. This means full Alert Level 4 lockdown restrictions, including no visitors (except where residents are receiving palliative or end of life care and with prior agreement from the Unit Manager), ongoing infection control measures such as twice-daily temperature and symptom checks for residents, appropriate PPE use by staff, physical distancing and hand hygiene to help us keep residents and staff as safe as possible.

Thank you for your continued support in monitoring Locations of Interest. Please remember to stay at home if you or someone in your household is sick with symptoms or awaiting a COVID-19 test result. If you are at all concerned, please contact your GP or Health line on 0800 358 5453, advise your Unit Manager and follow the Ministry of Health guidelines.

Also thank you to those staff who have had a surveillance test and taken up the vaccination.

We have stabilised our staff levels as people in isolation are tested and released back to work, so thank you all again for continuing to be flexible and responsive. The additional $2 per hour lockdown allowance will continue to be paid while we are in Alert Level 4.

I appreciate that the extension of the lockdown may be stressful for you, please remember to connect with your colleagues, Unit Manager and our EAP service if you feel you need some extra wellbeing support.

We are monitoring the alert levels closely and will keep in touch with you when developments occur, especially around alert level changes.

Ngā mihi nui,

Carriann Hall
Chief Executive
CHT Healthcare Trust

COVID-19 UPDATE: Alert Level 2 – Bay of Plenty & Waikato regions

Dear CHT staff members,

From Wednesday 8 September all CHT facilities in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions will move into Alert Level 2.

At Alert Level 2 we welcome back visitors and therefore we introduce precautionary measures to keep you, your residents and their families safe. I want to share some key points about operating in Alert Level 2 and your Unit Manager will be able to give you the full information relevant to your role.

Visiting hours are by appointment only, during set time slots, to allow us to effectively manage infection control. Checking in procedures including health checks and wearing a disposable surgical mask will be mandatory. Physical distancing, staying in designated areas and hand hygiene are also important measures for visitors. Families may now bring gifts or personal items to their loved one, and we are requesting that they are packaged up, labelled with the resident’s name, and be able to be wiped down.

Thank you for all your support through Alert Level 4 and 3, as per our policy the lockdown allowance will come to an end in Alert Level 2.

I also wanted to give you an update about our Amberlea and St Margarets locations where each Unit has had one staff member who, having already been asked by CHT to self-isolate, subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. We are very grateful to these staff for doing the right thing to protect their team and residents.

I want to reassure you that in both situations, we responded quickly and cautiously and test results received so far at both locations have been negative for both residents and staff. We continue to follow the expert advice from Public Health and DHB teams.

Please feel free to speak with your Unit Manager if you have any questions, and thank you again for your hard work and care for each other during the past few weeks.

Carriann Hall
Chief Executive
CHT Healthcare Trust

COVID-19 UPDATE: Alert Level 3 – Bay of Plenty and Waikato CHT locations

Dear CHT staff member,

I am getting in touch with you to confirm the Prime Minister’s announcement today that the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions will move down into Alert Level 3 on Wednesday 1 September for one week.

In an abundance of caution to protect the safety and health of our staff and residents, visiting remains suspended during Alert Level 3, with the exemption for residents who are receiving palliative or end of life care and with prior agreement from the Unit Manager.

Thanks to all of you for continuing to vigilantly follow all advice from the Ministry of Health around precautions we need to take to keep our staff and residents safe, including social distancing, hand hygiene, wearing masks and gloves, extra cleaning and cohorting of residents and staff where possible.

I also want to stress to you the importance of staying at home if you, or someone in your household, is unwell or has cold and flu symptoms. Please do not come to work if this situation happens to you, and call your Unit Manager.

If you travel to and from work at CHT across a regional border, you will need a travel exemption permit. We can organise this for you so please speak with your Unit Manager if you are concerned or require a permit.

Carriann Hall
Chief Executive
CHT Healthcare Trust

COVID-19 UPDATE: Alert Level 4 extension – Auckland CHT locations

Dear CHT staff member,

I am getting in touch with you to confirm the Prime Minister’s announcement today that the Auckland region will remain in Alert Level 4 for a further two weeks.

In an abundance of caution to protect the safety and health of our staff and residents, visiting remains suspended during Alert Level 4, with the exemption for residents who are receiving palliative or end of life care and with prior agreement from the Unit Manager.

Thanks to all of you for continuing to vigilantly follow all advice from the Ministry of Health around precautions we need to take to keep our staff and residents safe, including social distancing, hand hygiene, wearing masks and gloves, extra cleaning and cohorting of residents and staff where possible.

I also want to stress to you the importance of staying at home if you, or someone in your household, is unwell or has cold and flu symptoms. Please do not come to work if this situation happens to you, and call your Unit Manager.

If you travel to and from work at CHT across a regional border, you will need a travel exemption permit. We can organise this for you so please speak with your Unit Manager if you are concerned or require a permit.

Carriann Hall
Chief Executive
CHT Healthcare Trust