Update 23 March 2020: New Zealand is now in COVID-19 Alert Level 4 as of Thursday 26 March 2020, for at least four weeks. See the Prime Minister’s announcement, and the information set out below.
Stay safe and well, Pukerua Bay!
Support for residents
The Residents’ Association and PKB Hub are enacting community resilience and support plans for Pukerua Bay. Read our post here to find out more; if you need help, let us know your details by contacting us here, or if would like to help, please register your interest here.
Keeping up to date
This is a fast moving situation, so for the latest updates and official information on the coronavirus pandemic, it is best to keep tabs on the following sites:
- Official updates from the NZ Government: Unite against COVID-19
- World Health Organisation: Coronavirus pandemic status
- Ministry of Health: COVID-19 updates and guidelines
- Porirua City Council: COVID-19 updates and notices
- Wage support, employment, and benefits: WINZ coronavirus information
- Support for your business: MBIE Business portal COVID-19 update
- Essential businesses: information for business operators and workers
- Musicians who have lost gigs: fill in the form on I Lost My Gig NZ
- News coverage: Radio NZ National (and on 101.3 FM), and Stuff
If you are unwell
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 coronavirus disease (cough, fever of at least 38°C, shortness of breath), call the NZ COVID-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (or +64 9 358 5453 for international calls). Note that these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have COVID-19, and are similar to other illnesses that are much more common.
Shop normally, shop safely
There is no need to panic-buy when shopping. Even at Alert Level 4, the government has pledged to provide the support required to keep supermarkets and pharmacies open and well-stocked. Buying items in bulk may deprive other more vulnerable shoppers in real need, and buying things like masks and hand sanitiser in bulk will make them more difficult to obtain for health and hospital staff.
See our post about shopping safely.
Public transport
You can use public transport to get to the supermarket or pharmacy. All Wellington region trains and buses during the lock-down are free; details on the Metlink website.
The Kāpiti trains will be running every day on a special timetable based on the Saturday schedule, with reduced staff contact from 25 March. There will be trains every half hour 7am-8pm, and hourly outside those times.
The Metlink contact centre free phone number is 0800 801700.