The coronavirus has effectively been eliminated from the Bay!
There are now no active cases of Covid-19 in Hawke’s Bay – all 44 confirmed cases have recovered. And just 22 active cases still left in the whole country.
While the Ruby Princess cluster has yet to be officially declared closed by the Ministry of Health, there are no active cases associated with the cruise ship remaining, and all residents and staff at Gladys Mary Care Home are in the clear.
Over the last three weeks considerable efforts were made to “to make sure no stone was left unturned and community transmission was prevented,” says the DHB’s interim CEO, Craig Climo. As well as following up as many people as possible who may have come into close contact with passengers and/or crew from the Ruby Princess cruise ship, the public health team electronically combed through GP records to ensure no one, who may have presented with cold or other Covid symptoms and did not meet the case definition at the time, was missed.
Testing was also ramped up across the board, to net any possible cases amongst people who may have been exposed to the virus but had no symptoms. No cases were found.
While the public are asked to remain vigilant and get any cold or flu symptoms tested, the health focus now shifts to the huge task of clinical catch-up.
“The DHB has begun in earnest its recovery to rapidly increase its clinical capacity,” says Mr Climo, “so we can treat and see the many people who have had planned elective surgery and outpatients’ clinics postponed during the lockdown period.”
Hawke’s Bay Covid-19 Case Numbers
| 26 May | Hastings | Napier | CHB | Wairoa | Total |
| New cases | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total cases | 16 | 25 | 0 | 3 | 44 |
| Hospitalisations | 0 | ||||
| Recovered | 16 | 25 | 3 | 44
(100% of cases) | |
| Number of tests in HB | 5,925
(as of 9 May) |
| 26 May | New Zealand | Global |
| New cases | 0
(1,841 tested) | 97,000 |
| Total cases | 1,504
(263,156 tests) | 5.5 million |
| Hospitalisations | 1
(0 in ICU) | |
| Deaths | 21 | 346,000 |
| Recovered | 1,461
(97% of cases) | 2.2 million |
Source: Ministry of Health, Hawke’s Bay DHB, and John Hopkins University.