Important Covid-19 Update: 23 January 2022
Tēnā koe,
Yesterday afternoon the Prime Minister confirmed that there are cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in the community in Aotearoa. As a result, all of Aotearoa is to move into Red under the traffic light system from 11:59pm, 23 January 2021.
Omicron is now circulating in Tāmaki Makaurau, Nelson and Palmerston North.
We know this is news we didn’t want to hear, but extra precautions are being taken given the infectiousness of the Omicron variant.
Here’s an update on how Whai Māia will be operating during this time. We hope this pānui helps prepare you and whānau for any possibility – Tiakina tātou i a tātou!
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Programmes and Services
As an essential service, we will continue to operate and deliver supports and services under strict social-distancing conditions and ensuring the appropriate measures are taken when in the community.
Services we are offering:
Kia haumaru te noho e te whānau! Stay safe, look after yourself and your whānau.
Ngā manaakitanga, your whānau at Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
If you or your whānau feel unwell, please stay home and contact your GP as soon as possible. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, call Healthline 0800 611 116. The most common symptoms include fever (high temperature), dry cough and tiredness.
TAMAKI VACCINATION CENTRE. 261 Morrin Road, St Johns. Open Monday – Sunday | 8am – 4pm
Vaccinations are now available for those aged 5-11yrs who are accompanied by a parent. No booking required, we are now taking walk-ins!
Do you need help managing isolation? Urgent Contact – Teara Gillman, 021 118 0815, vaccine@nwo.iwi.nz
General Enquiries & Support:
Call our friendly team on 0508 NW Ōrākei (0508 6967 2534).
Email us at whaimaia@nwo.iwi.nz.
Did you know that the NZ COVID Tracer Mobile App now includes Bluetooth tracing. This means it will be able to alert you when you’ve been near another app user who tests positive for COVID-19.
Once the update has been installed, you will be able to turn on Bluetooth Tracing. If your phone is compatible, it will ask for permission to use your phone’s Exposure Notification System. This is entirely optional but strongly recommended.
If you have an Android phone, it might take a few minutes for it to confirm whether your device supports Bluetooth tracing. Please be patient and check back later if you need to. You can read more about compatibility requirements for Bluetooth tracing on our website.
Yes, whether or not you choose to participate in Bluetooth tracing, you should also continue to scan the official QR codes wherever you see them.
QR codes allow us to create a private record of the places we’ve been, while Bluetooth tracing allows us to create an anonymised record of the people we’ve been near. Both are important for contact tracing.
Bluetooth tracing uses radio waves to allow your phone to securely exchange randomised ‘keys’ with other nearby phones up to around 2 metres away.
When an app user tests positive for COVID-19, the contact tracing team will ask them to upload their Bluetooth keys. If you were near enough to that person for long enough to be at risk of exposure, you will receive a Bluetooth alert.
The Bluetooth alert will give you advice on what you need to do to protect yourself and your whānau to help stop the spread of the virus.
Watch a short video here for an overview of Bluetooth tracing.
Protecting your privacy has been one of our top priorities throughout the development of NZ COVID Tracer.
Bluetooth tracing doesn’t involve exchanging any identifying information. Anyone who receives a Bluetooth alert won’t know who sent it or where they were when they were exposed to the virus.
Similarly, your digital diary of scanned QR codes and manual entries is stored securely on your phone where only you can see it.
The app has been endorsed by the Privacy Commissioner due to its focus on privacy.
We have also released the source code so you can see for yourself how the app manages your data.
Bluetooth tracing requires iOS 13.5+ on iPhones or Android 6.0+ on other phones. Phones with Android must also support Bluetooth Low Energy and have access to Google Play Services.
If your phone does not support Bluetooth tracing, you can still scan the QR codes to keep a private record of the places you visit, and will still receive location alerts if you have them enabled.
NZ COVID Tracer will update by itself if you have automatic updates enabled.
You can also manually update the app through the App Store (for iPhones) or the Play Store (other phones). Instructions can be found on the Ministry’s website.
If you experience any problems using the app, please contact the app support team at help@covidtracer.min.health.nz or on 0800 800 606.
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