There are 270 new cases of Covid-19 in the Queenstown Lakes district today (Tuesday March 15), bringing the district’s total of active cases to 1,767.

The total figure has reduced from 2,817 yesterday as cases pass the 90 day mark.

The Southern District Health Board (SDHB) does not provide a breakdown of case numbers within Queenstown Lakes so the Wānaka App cannot provide information about the number of cases in the Upper Clutha. 

The wider Southern region has had 15,547 cases in the past 90 days, the SDHB said.

There are 14 people with Covid-19 in hospital in the Southern region: 11 in Dunedin and three in Southland.

The SDHB continues to advise people to get their booster vaccination.

In the coming weeks some services across the SDHB may change or scale back to allow staff to be redeployed to areas in the health care system where care cannot be deferred, the SDHB said. 

These areas include services such as cancer care, non-deferrable surgery and diagnostic procedures such as radiology.  

Changes may be made to non-urgent surgeries and non-urgent outpatient clinics. 

“Staff across the Southern DHB are doing a great job to care for patients during a difficult time,” SDHB chief operating officer Hamish Brown said. 

“We apologise in advance to those affected by these changes and remind the Southern community to still seek out medical care if they or a loved one need it.”  

Emergency and non-deferrable surgeries and procedures are being given priority, and anyone needing health advice should continue to call their GP or Healthline on 0800 611 116 or dial 111 if it’s an emergency.

If you or a loved one is experiencing Covid-19 anxiety or stress you can free call or text 1737 to talk with a trained counsellor. This is a national service that is run 24 hours a day.  

More information about mental health services that all New Zealanders can access can be found here.

IMAGE: Supplied