Isolating at Home
Support for if you get COVID-19
Most fully-vaccinated people with COVID-19 are likely to have a mild to moderate illness and will fully recover in their own home, or in suitable alternative accommodation.
Care in the community is where people are supported by local care providers to ensure their health, welfare and wellbeing needs are met while they are recovering from COVID-19. Below you will find some key information about isolating at home and why it is so important to follow the guidelines.
Is your household ready if someone gets COVID-19?
It’s only a matter of time before a positive case of COVID-19 is in your community. The health care system will always be there for those who need help but most people who contract COVID-19 will not require hospitalisation and will be able to isolate safely at home.
Everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 and their household needs to stay at home and avoid contact with others, including whānau. Being ready is about people, conversations, connections and knowing what to do. Being ready will mean your whānau and community can help each other if needed.
Click HERE for a COVID-19 Readiness Checklist
Why isolation?
Everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 and everyone who lives with them will need to isolate to help stop the spread of the virus.
There are two ways to self-isolate – at home or in suitable alternative accommodation, or in a managed isolation facility. Managed isolation facilities are in hotels in different locations across New Zealand where you can isolate for free, with your household for at least 10 days.
If there is another property that you have access to, or are provided, that is more suitable for self- isolation than your usual place of residence, you can self-isolate there instead.
Note: if you are seriously unwell you will receive hospital care.
Isolating at home
When you test positive for COVID-19 you will need to isolate in your home or in suitable accommodation for at least 10 days while you recover from COVID-19.
Everyone else in your home must isolate for at least 10 days while the COVID-19 positive person is recovering, and will be advised if further isolation is required beyond that.
While isolating
Do not:
X leave the place where you are isolating
X go to work, school or public places
X go on public transport or use taxis
X go out to get kai and medicine
X have visitors in your home except for health or community workers who are providing essential care to you or someone in your household
X go to a vaccination appointment. If you have a vaccination appointment scheduled either ring the booking line or go online to change your appointment
X go out in a public place to exercise
– only exercise at home.
Where possible, ask whānau or friends to shop for you, but do not bring them into the house. If this is not possible, order supplies online.
Make sure any deliveries are left outside your home for you to collect.
Tips for keeping your whānau safe
- Stay away from others in your home as much as possible. If you can avoid sharing rooms or beds or preparing food for others this will help reduce the chances of spread of COVID-19.
- As much as possible, open windows and doors to allow air to flow through your house.
- Wipe down surfaces used by others like bathroom taps and kitchen benches with soap, water and a cloth.
- Do not share dishes and cutlery, towels and pillows. Please do your own laundry if possible.
- Wash your hands often and cough or sneeze into an elbow or a tissue.
- If you need medication, contact your GP or your local community pharmacy who will make arrangements for your medication to be safely delivered to your home.
Further assistance
For more information about the Health and Welfare support available to you in Canterbury, visit https://www.cdhb.health.nz/your-health/category/covid19/
If you are concerned about any COVID-19 symptoms you are experiencing, please contact Healthline (for free) on 0800 358 5453 or call your own GP team.
If you need welfare support, you can call your COVID-19 welfare guide, if you have one, or the COVID-19 Welfare phone line on 0800 512 337, 7 days a week
