COVID-19
COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that affects your lungs, airways and other organs. There are different strains that spread between people and affect them differently. Some people with COVID-19 can get very sick, and some people severely sick.
COVID-19 spreads from person to person. When an infected person breathes, speaks, coughs, sneezes or sings, they may spread particles containing the virus. It is more likely that COVID-19 will spread through the air than on surfaces, but both are possible.
There are 3 main ways you can get COVID-19.
- Breathing in air with COVID-19 particles.
- COVID-19 particles landing on your mouth, nose or eyes, for example, from a cough or sneeze.
- Touching your mouth, nose or eyes when your hands have the virus on them, either through direct contact with someone or by touching contaminated surfaces.
COVID-19 vaccinations
- To book your vaccination, call us on 09 435 3323 or use the link below
- Book My Vaccine
Get the facts
You can find the most accurate and reliable information about the COVID-19 vaccine from a number of trusted sources including:
- Unite against COVID-19 – Covid19.govt.nz
- Ministry of Health – Health.govt.nz
- Te Puni Kōkiri – Karawhiua.nz
- Ministry for Pacific Peoples – mpp.govt.nz
Protect yourself and others
Here are some ways to lessen your chance of getting COVID-19 or giving it to others.
- Stay up to date with your immunisations and boosters.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Limit time in crowded places.
- Wear a face mask.
- Keep your distance from others when indoors.
- Improve ventilation.
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow.
- Wash your hands often with warm soapy water.
- Clean surfaces with regular household cleaners or bleach.
What are the symptoms of Covid-19?
Symptoms can include one or more of the following:
- a new or worsening cough
- sneezing and runny nose
- a fever
- temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste
- sore throat
- shortness of breath
- fatigue/feeling of tiredness.
Less common symptoms may include:
- diarrhoea
- headache
- muscle pain or body aches
- nausea
- vomiting
- malaise — a general feeling of discomfort, illness or unease
- chest pain
- abdominal pain
- joint pain
- confusion or irritability.
What are the treatment options?
Most people with COVID-19 — especially if they are fully vaccinated and boosted — are likely to have a mild to moderate illness and will be fine to recover at home.
Symptoms for COVID-19 tend to show 2 to 5 days after a person has been infected but can take up to 14 days. Omicron causes similar symptoms to other variants.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms as well as have high-risk medical conditions or at an eligible age, you may be able to qualify for COVID-19 antiviral medicines nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (Paxlovid™) or molnupiravir (Lagevrio®). Contact your doctor for more information.
