Saturday, April 4, 2020 | 05:56 PM

A national state of national emergency was declared on 25 March 2020 at 12:21pm due to COVID-19. The Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Rotorua Lakes District Health Board and Toi te Ora are leading the regional health response to COVID-19. The Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Group Emergency Coordination Centre (GECC) has been activated to assist the national and health response and to manage and coordinate the consequences of COVID-19 in the Bay of Plenty.

Sunday, March 29, 2020 | 11:29 AM

COVID-19 Response

A national state of national emergency was declared on 25 March 2020 at 12:21pm due to COVID-19. The Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Rotorua Lakes District Health Board and Toi te Ora are leading the regional health response to COVID-19. The Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Group Emergency Coordination Centre (GECC) has been activated to assist the national and health response and to manage and coordinate the consequences of COVID-19 in the Bay of Plenty.

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COVID-19 Response

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND THE LATEST PUBLIC UPDATES AND ADVICE PLEASE VISIT WWW.COVID19.GOVT.NZ

As at 11.59pm Wednesday 25th March 2020 New Zealand is in a Level 4 lock-down to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

This means New Zealanders not working in essential services must stay at home and stop all interactions with others outside of your household.

Eradicating the disease is vital to protect people’s health and ensure our health system can cope and look after New Zealanders who become sick. For more information on what this mean for you, read below.

You may go for a walk or exercise and enjoy nature, but keep a 2 metre distance from people at all times. You can take your children outside.
Food will always be available – production will continue, distribution will continue, supermarkets will continue. You will always have access to food. You do not need to panic buy.
Medicines will always be available.
Healthcare for those that need it will be available
Your usual financial support, like benefits, will continue as normal.

Remember, whatever you do must be solitary. We're asking that you only spend time with those who you are in self-isolation with, and keep your distance from all others at all times. Further guidelines are available here>>.

We need your support to protect New Zealand and eradicate COVID-19. Enforcement measures may be used to ensure everyone acts together, now.

Bay of Plenty call centre for assistance with essential goods and services

To access essential food and medications please use your network of friends, family and neighbours who can help you at this time.

If you are unable to obtain essential food and medication through these networks you can make contact with our Bay of Plenty call centre on 0800 884 222 between 7am and 7pm.

We can support households who are facing hardship and need help with access to essentials such as food and medication, particularly for vulnerable, disabled or at risk groups and people without access to their own transport.

OTHER LOCAL CONTACTS:

Bay of Plenty and Lakes District Health Board information
BOP Health COVID-19 Response	www.covid19.bopdhb.govt.nz	facebook.com/BOPCOVID19
Information for Māori
Te Puni Kokiri	www.tpk.govt.nz	facebook.com/waikatowaiariki
Council essential services information and local Civil Defence updates
Kawerau District Council	www.kaweraudc.govt.nz	facebook.com/KawerauDistrictCouncil
Opotiki District Council	www.odc.govt.nz	facebook.com/OpotikiDistrictCouncil
Rotorua Lakes Council	www.rotorualakescouncil.nz	facebook.com/RotoruaLakesCouncil
Tauranga City Council	www.tauranga.govt.nz	facebook.com/TaurangaCityCouncil
Western Bay of Plenty District Council	www.westernbay.govt.nz	facebook.com/westernbaycouncil
Whakatane District Council	www.whakatane.govt.nz	facebook.com/WhakataneDistrictCouncil

Baybus for essential travel only	www.baybus.co.nz	facebook.com/boprc
Bay of Plenty Regional Council	www.boprc.govt.nz	facebook.com/boprc

MEDIA RELEASES

31 March 2020 Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management call centre launched
28 March 2020 Staying vigilant over the weekend
3 April 2020 Freedom campers asked to stay at specific sites for lockdown

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Public transport is still available but only for essential workers and necessary trips. Please follow safe distancing and hygiene protocols while using buses.

See passenger registration requirements and service level changes at www.baybus.co.nz

If your service is no longer available, and you are reliant on the bus to travel to your essential services job, or to access the supermarket or healthcare then contact Baybus directly to discuss alternative options on 800 4 BAYBUS (0800 4 229 287).