We have all been surprised at the speed at which Coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread globally and the impact it has had on a number of countries. At the time of this post being published the number of cases in New Zealand has remained at 5 for the past few days. The message we are getting is that it is important to be vigilant and take extra care with some things – for example regularly, and thoroughly, washing your hands; stay home if you are feeling unwell or have any symptoms of a cold; but otherwise we are able to continue business as usual.

There are no specific guidelines from the Ministry of Health about going out shopping, to the movies, or for brunch/ lunch/ dinner, or drinks. However, their guidelines for attending public events are the most relevant, and probably worth familiarising yourself with. The content below is from www.health.govt.nz.

EVENT ATTENDEES

At this stage the Ministry of Health does not recommend altering arrangements for public events. However, the situation and our response to it is changing all the time. For the latest advice, keep an eye on this website and check in with the people or organisation in charge of the event you plan to attend.

If you are sick, do not attend public events.

ATTENDING PUBLIC EVENTS

The following people should not attend events:

• anyone who is unwell
• anyone arriving in New Zealand who has returned from mainland China, Iran, northern Italy or the Republic of Korea (excluding airport transit), or been in close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days is being asked to self-isolate. Please also register your details with Healthline 0800 358 5453 (or +64 9 358 5453 if using an international SIM) if you have not already.

How to minimise the risk of getting sick at an event

The most important thing to do is practice good hygiene. This means:

• covering coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or coughing/sneezing into your elbow
• disposing of used tissues appropriately in a bin
• washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water and drying them thoroughly, or using hand sanitiser:
  • before eating or handling food
  • after using the toilet
  • after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose or wiping children’s noses
  • after touching public surfaces
• trying to keep a metre away from people who are unwell
• limiting alcohol and drug use (as this may affect your ability to adequately follow the advice above).

The measures above are especially important for people who have existing health conditions, such as those with diabetes, renal failure, chronic lung disease or who are immunocompromised.

We want everyone to be able to continue to enjoy coming to Newmarket, and keep themselves, and others safe. We can all do our bit by following the Ministry of Health’s guidelines

See you here soon.

Mark Knoff-Thomas
Chief Executive