As of midnight today, Tuesday 07 September, all of New Zealand south and north of Auckland will move down to alert level 'delta 2'. A further assessment for all of New Zealand will occur on Monday 13 September. This shows just how effective the alert level system has been in isolating and reducing the spread of the delta variant of Covid-19. Well done to all of us for staying the course and making sure friends and whānau are protected.

With cases still in the community, though the daily rate has dropped significantly, Auckland will continue at alert level four until at least Monday 13 September.

For Auckland, only essential services remain open and movement is restricted. That means, unless you're in an essential occupation, you and your whānau should be at home in your bubble making sure you're not putting yourselves or others at risk of infection. You can find out more about what the different alert levels mean here: https://covid19.govt.nz/government-actions/covid-19-alert-level/

 It's important that we all stay connected at this time. HFNZ encourages you all to keep talking to one another, send aroha from afar, and above all, be kind to one another.

All HFNZ communication channels remain open, so check out our website, follow us on Facebook, look out for our emails, and feel free to reach out to your Outreach Worker on 0508 FACTOR (0508 322 867) if you need support or information.

What level delta 2 means for you

At alert level 2, there are no restrictions on who can be included in your household bubble, businesses can open and you can go to work while children can go off to school. Schools have been given 48 hours to reopen from Thursday morning. Essential workers crossing the alert-level border are required to have weekly tests, and, if you're leaving or transiting Auckland to access a level 2 area, you must not stop until you've crossed the boundary.

There have been some changes to the level 2 we've experienced before, in light of how much more transmissible the delta variant is.

Here are the major changes for delta 2:

Face coverings are mandatory

•  Face coverings are now mandatory at level 2 in most public venues.
• You can take your mask off in venues like restaurants and cafes.
• Staff at public facing businesses in level 2 must wear face coverings.
• In general, the government is asking you wear a mask if you visit any indoor venues.
• Masks are not being mandated in schools, but it are being recommended.

Record keeping

• The government expects the public to scan in using the Covid-19 tracer app everywhere they go.
• It is mandatory at bars, restaurants, cinemas, churches, and close-contact venues like hairdressers. Customers must scan or have record keeping.
• Mandatory record keeping comes into effect from 11:59 pm, 7 September.

Gatherings

• Indoor hospitality venues now have a limit of 50 people, while outdoor venues will have a limit of 100 people.
• This limit includes things like weddings, civil union ceremonies, birthdays, funerals and tangihanga.
• Event and entertainment facilities including cinemas, stadiums and concert venues can open but again, the above limits apply.
• Indoor public facilities like gyms, which under the old level 2 did not have limits on people inside and required one-metre distancing, will now be required to enforce 2m distancing.

Here's what the Prime Minister has to say about the delta 2 changes: https://youtu.be/IaG7qpO7ljE
 
For a full breakdown of alert level 2 rules visit the Ministry of Health website.
 
We've all done really well, but it's not over yet. Please remember to follow the delta 2 rules, so that our lives can return to normal again.

2023 Disability Survey

One thing that you could do while you're at home is participate in consultation on the 2023 disability survey. It's really important that the rare disorders community isn't left out of this process.

On Monday 6 September, Stats NZ will begin consulting on the content of the 2023 Disability Survey. The consultation process runs until Friday 29 October 2021.

The 2023 Disability Survey will be the first national disability survey to be carried out since 2013, and Stats NZ is inviting feedback on the content of the survey to ensure it continues to meet data needs. This is also an opportunity to hear from disabled people and better reflect their views in the survey. 

The drop in sessions will be one hour long. They will be held during the day using Zoom and you do not need to register.

Zoom sessions will be held on the following days and times.

• Monday 6 September 3.00 – 4.00pm
• Wednesday 8 September 3.00 – 4.00pm
• Friday 10 September 3.00 – 4.00pm (NZSL Interpreter)
• Monday 13 September 11.00am – 12.00pm (NZSL Interpreter)
• Wednesday 15 September 11.00 – 12.00pm

To join a drop in session, click on the Zoom Meeting link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8030743044?pwd=S0dOVnl3ZmZEM3RUQ3pUdVU5RVhjZz09

Meeting ID: 803 074 3044

Passcode: Letmein#00

Bleeding disorder products

There is no concern over the amount of treatment currently available in New Zealand; companies are required to have 3-6 months stock in the country at any time. However, while all freight supply routes remain open, there have been some delays moving treatment from the supplier to the HTCs.

That means patients should not wait until they are out of treatment before organising more. It is good practice to keep two weeks worth of treatment, at your normal level, on hand at all times. This allows for any unexpected events or delays.

The World Federation of Hemophilia advise that there is currently no known risk to blood, blood treatment products, or plasma derived products. Furthermore, they emphasise that  " the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the potential risk of adverse reactions".

For more information about the Covid-19 vaccine and bleeding disorders go to: https://www1.wfh.org/docs/website/en/News/WFH-EHC-Statement-on-EMA-April2021.pdf 

What we are doing

HFNZ are closely monitoring the latest developments and will make sure all members are well informed. We are maintaining ongoing contact with key groups, including clinicians and pharmaceutical companies, and taking advice from the World Federation of Hemophilia and the NZ Ministry of Health.

All staff will continue working from home, but will not be physically meeting with members until further notice. Our Outreach team are always available if you need to reach out for support. Just call 0508 FACTOR (0508 322 867). 

Planning continues for the upcoming Women's Weekend in Dunedin. It is expected that this will go ahead as planned, but tickets are selling fast! If you want to attend, but haven't registered yet, now is the hour. In the event that we have to postpone Women's Weekend, we are already looking at contingencies for early in the New Year.

Special Needs Grants are available to HFNZ members where there is demonstrated hardship. Please contact your Outreach Worker to find out more.

For information about other support services offered by HFNZ please visit our website: https://www.haemophilia.org.nz/

Haemophilia Treatment Centres

As essential services, all haemophilia treatment centres remain available. However, at the moment all contact is by phone or online.

Here's how you can connect with your local HTC:

Auckland - Contact Karen or Vanessa at akhaem@adhb.govt.nz or on 09 307 4949 ext 25285.

Waikato - Contact Maureen at Maureen.Campbell@waikatodhb.health.nz or on 021 846 920 or 07 839 8899 ext 23638.

Palmerston North - Contact Darryl at Daryl.Pollock@midcentraldhb.govt.nz or on her cell 027 240 8254 as she is working from home. If anyone needs to be seen, it can be sorted out at the time.

Wellington - Contact BJ as normal at Brian.Ramsay@ccdhb.org.nz or via the haemophilia phone on 027 334 5081.

Canterbury - Contact Kathy at kathryn.fawcett@cdhb.health.nz or 027 526 1574 during office hours.

Southern - Contact Val at Val.waugh@southerndhb.govt.nz or on 027 269 9383, or the haematologist on call via main operator Dunedin Hospital at 03 474 0999 for any urgent problem

Need help?

There are several useful sources of NZ-based information about the Covid-19 outbreak, including:

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

https://covid19.govt.nz/

The World Federation of Hemophilia has some excellent Covid-19 information for people with bleeding disorders:

https://www.wfh.org/en/covid-19-communications

If you are worried about your or someone else’s mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. 

Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.

Or if you need to talk to someone else:

Alcohol Drug HelpLine – 0800 787 797

Asian Helpline – 0800 862 342

Lifeline – 0800 543 354

Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

Youthline – 0800 376 633 or free text 234

Kidsline – 0800 54 37 54 (for under 18s)

What’s Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18-year-olds 1pm–10pm weekdays and 3pm–10pm weekends)

Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 or free text 4202

Samaritans – 0800 726 666

OUTLine NZ – 0800 688 5463

Healthline – 0800 611 116

If your work has been impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak and your income is affected you may be able to get financial support from the government. To find out more about your options check out the dedicated Work and Income Covid-19 page: https://workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/index.html

If you have any questions, please contact HFNZ via the 0508 FACTOR number or at info@haemophilia.org.nz.