Covid-19 Information

The status Level in New Zealand is Level 1, with the only current restrictions being on our borders.

As primary health care support Naturopaths can be a great source of comfort and help for people during the Covid-19 pandemic. We need to ensure we are not also a vector point when the idea is to stamp out the disease by giving it no points of contact to transfer. We can also help by spreading the official public health messages. Please ensure you are doing so.

This means while you can see patients in person, you need to ensure there are some measures in place to mitigate risk such as:

• If a client contacts you with any symptoms of Covid-19 do not have them come to you, but refer them to a testing station.
• Ensure there is hand sanitiser and good hygiene practices anywhere clients will be.
• Show a QR code for those who have the Covid tracing app, or ensure there is an alternative system in place for contact tracing.
• Make sure there is adequate social distancing in your waiting room, with good ventilation, and please ensure clients are not waiting in the same space for periods longer than 15 minutes.
• If you feel more comfortable it is acceptable to wear a mask, and if your client wishes to do so, please make them feel this is fine.

The best thing to do is to imagine you have Covid-19. Would the measures you’re taking stop the spread? There may still be clients who are immunocompromised, in high risk catagories, or simple cautious. Moving consultations to phone or online formats for these clients is a great option. Information about how to do this can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/336807163070325/posts/2807891392628544/

The shipping of herbal and nutritional medicines is as normal.  The following can also be prescribed to support your clients.

Over the counter products available through pharmacies and supermarkets.

Herbal teas and decoctions people can make from culinary spices, herbs, garden plants and NZ natives.

Nutritional medicine using food

Lifestyle advice

If you must go out to get essential items –

Maintain a minimum safe distance of 2 metres

Avoid unnecessary activities

Don’t linger near people for more than 15 minutes

While there has been little evidence of people contracting the virus from surfaces, wiping surfaces down if they have been touched, being more thorough with cleaning and washing hands regularly is a good idea.

•  Continue to wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (for kids it helps to tell them to sing Happy Birthday twice).

• Have everyone entering your house or place of work wash their hands upon entering to keep inside a safe zone.

If you are concerned you are showing symptoms, DO NOT go to the emergency department or your doctor’s office, rather call your doctor, or the dedicated Covid-19 Healthline 0800 358 5453 (or for international SIMs +64 9 358 5453) for up to date advice and information on what to do.

If you have having an emergency, phone 111 and advise them that the symptoms are Covid-19 related.

For regularly updated information please visit the Ministry of Health resource dedicated to giving information on covid-19 here  https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-novel-coronavirus-resources/covid-19-information-sheets-general-public