The situation with COVID-19 can change quickly. On this page, we provide key information and links for where to go for COVID-19 advice.
COVID-related healthcare
Note:from 13 February 2023, some people will have to pay for COVID-related visits to their healthcare provider. COVID care will still be free for you if you:
have a high-risk medical condition
are Māori or Pasifika
have a disability
are aged 65 years or older
meet the criteria for antiviral medicine.
Most people will be able to manage their symptoms and recover at home. However, if you need to go to hospital because of COVID, hospital care will remain free.
If you need help, contact your healthcare provider for advice or call Healthline 0800 358 5453.
Isolation and testing
Only people who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to isolate for 7 days.
If you are a household contact, test daily using a rapid antigen test (RAT)for 5 days from the day that the person in your household tested positive. As long as you test negative, you will be able to go about daily life as normal.
Face masks
Masks won't be required anywhere, except when visiting certain healthcare facilities like hospitals, GPs, pharmacies and aged care residential facilities.
Some places like workplaces or marae may ask people to wear a mask. Masks are recommended in confined places such as public transport or when visiting vulnerable people.
International travellers
People arriving in New Zealand from overseas will continue to receive free RATs at the airport and will be encouraged to test on day 0/1 and 5/6.
COVID-19 antivirals
COVID-19 antivirals are medicines used to treat COVID-19 infection. They may help you become less sick and stay out of hospital.
If you are eligible to have your COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, get it as soon as possible. Getting your booster will give you and your whānau greater protection from COVID-19, including Omicron. The second booster shot is available for some people, read more about who is eligible and when.
Rapid antigen testing (RAT) is the main form of testing
In Aotearoa New Zealand, RATs (rapid antigen testing) are the main form of testing for COVID-19. You can now access a RAT from hundreds of locations around the country, including supermarkets and pharmacies, making getting a test much easier. Places where RATs are available can be found on the HealthPoint website, free RATS can be ordered online. Read more about RATs.
Informationon how to do a rapid antigen test is available, but each brand is slightly different so read the information in the packet as well.
Reporting your results
After doing your rapid antigen test, you should record your result in My Covid Record, as well as advising your employer. If you cannot access My Covid Record, call 0800 222 478. Parents and caregivers can now choose to use My Covid Record to report RAT results for children under 12 and other family members. Read more about how to report RAT results.
Most people with mild to moderate symptoms people will self-manage their illness at home
To avoid pressure on our health system, most people with mild to moderate symptoms people will self-manage their illness at home, or in suitable alternative accommodation, with support from local healthcare providers.
If you live with someone who develops COVID-19, you are advised to take a RAT test every day for 5 days. As long as you continue to test negative you can keep doing your normal activities. If you test positive you will need to isolate for 7 days.
If you are a close contact – there is no need to isolate. Monitor yourself for symptoms and if they develop, get a test.
Can I get reinfected with COVID-19?
Yes, you can get reinfected with COVID within a short period of time – from 29 days since your last infection. Reinfection will become more likely as new variants spread among the community.
If COVID-19 symptoms return and it is28 days or lesssince your last COVID-19 infection:
there is no need to take a RAT
you should stay home and recover until 24 hours after you no longer have symptoms.
If you develop new COVID-19 symptoms and it is29 days or moresince your last COVID-19 infection it is possible that you have COVID-19 again and you should take a rapid antigen test (RAT).
A selection of trusted sources to go for COVID-19 advice for New Zealanders in general, and for Māori and Pacific people plus those needing interpreters or in special situations can be found on the resources page.
A free helpline has been set up for businesses: North Island 0800 500 362 and South Island 0800 50 50 96.
Aotearoa e te toa! Digital tools - using technology to recover from COVID-19 at home
(Health Navigator NZ, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, 2022)
Find out about COVID-19, including the symptoms and what you can do to avoid catching and spreading it.
What is COVID-19/Mate korona?
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a type ofcoronavirus.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases.
A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. The novel coronavirus now known as COVID-19 was first encountered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It has since spread to many other countries around the globe and is now recognised as apandemic. Learn more about the COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand.
It is called COVID-19 because it was first identified in 2019. There is no COVID-1 to COVID-18. It's known in te reo Māori as mate korona or Kowheori-19.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
The symptoms or tohu mate of COVID-19 are similar to common illnesses such as a cold or flu. You may have one or more of the following:
Common symptoms
a new or worsening cough (mare tauraki)
fever (at least 38˚C) (kirikā)
shortness of breath (hēmanawa)
a sore throat (korokoro mamae)
sneezing and runny nose
temporary loss of smell.
Shortness of breath is a sign of possible pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention.
Less common symptoms
Some people may have less typical symptoms such as only:
fever
diarrhoea (runny poos)
headache, myalgia (muscle pain)
nausea/vomiting (feeling or being sick)
confusion/irritability.
Note that the less common symptoms are more common with the new variants.
If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor, Healthline 0800 358 5453 or your iwi health provider. These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have COVID-19. Difficulty breathing is a sign of possiblepneumoniaand requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms can take up to 14 days to show after you have been infected. The virus can be passed onto others before they know they have it – from up to 2 days before symptoms develop.
For most people, COVID-19 infection will cause mild to moderate illness. However, it can make some people very ill. Older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions (such as cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease or diabetes) are at highest risk of severe disease.
How is COVID-19 spread?
COVID-19, like the flu, is spread by droplets. This means that when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks, they may spread droplets containing the virus a short distance.
That’s why it’s important to use good hand hygiene, practice physical distancing if you don’t know someone and stay home if you’re unwell. This includes regularly washing and drying your hands and coughing or sneezing into a disposable tissue or into your elbow.
What can I do to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19?
As with other respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce the risk of infection:
cough or sneeze into your elbow or by covering your mouth and nose with tissues
put used tissues in the bin or a bag immediately
wear a face covering – you should wear one whenever you can. COVID-19 spreads by droplets, so face coverings are a way we can protect ourselves and others
try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms
don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs.
Read more about public health measures to stop the spread or tikanga akuaku,including hand washing, cough and sneeze etiquette, not touching your face and physical distancing (sometimes known as 'social distancing' or tū tīrara).
The following is a list of trusted sources to go to for COVID-19 advice
Go to theUnite against COVID-19 website for all your COVID-19 questions, including those that are not health-related. They have translated resources available here. You can also follow Unite against COVID-19 on Facebook and get regular email updates by subscribing here.
A national COVID-19 healthline is available anytime on 0800 358 5453. Wellington region COVID-19 helpline is available from 7am–9pm on 0800 141 967.
The Government has also launched a WhatsApp channel Govt.NZl which is free to use on any mobile device and has information and news for the public, businesses, healthcare providers, not-for-profit organisations and local government.
There is information onhow to quarantine at homeif you or a whānau member tests positive for COVID-19 provided by WhānauHQ.
Need an interpreter or information in another language?
Feeling unwell? Call Healthline 0800 358 5453
Immediately say your language you need, for example, ‘Korean’ and wait (it could take up to 5–10 minutes). Do not hang up!
The Healthline staff have been briefed not to carry on talking in English to you if you have said the language you need first. You will be connected to an interpreter.
You can tell the interpreter your health concerns as part of a three-way conversation with the Healthline staff.
For information and resources specifically for Māori see uruta.maori.nz
Paerangi is an online information and referral centre designed specifically for whānau hauā (whānau with impairments), nga marae and kaumātua.
There is also a support/information phone line 0800 100 132.
Resources for Pasifika communities
OLA LELEI Pacific Helpline (0800 652 535)
Vaka Tautua provides a free FREE national Pacific helpline anyone can call if they are feeling worried, stressed or concerned about anything and need someone to talk to, help and support.
The service is available in Samoan, Tongan, Cook Islands, Māori and English.
The free call phone line - 0800 652 535 (0800 Ola Lelei) is available Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm.
Prepare Pacific has information specifically for Pasifika communities on COVID-19. There are also videos on the Ministry for Pacific People's Facebook page and YouTube channel. Information for Pasifika peoples can also be found on the Ministry of Pacific Peoples website and Facebook page.
Resources for people with disabilities and their family/whānau
You need to do everything you can to prevent yourself from coming into contact with COVID-19. This means being careful, clean and making a plan. Don’t be scared, be prepared.
Support for people on their own or caring for a vulnerable person
Register with wecare.kiwi to get advice and check-ins from trained and Police-vetted volunteers across New Zealand. Find out more at wecare.kiwi.
Information for people with diabetes
Based on overseas experience, it appears that people with diabetes who contract COVID-19 are at increased risk of serious complications of the infection, including respiratory failure and death. This means you need to take particular care of yourself during this time. Read more about diabetes and COVID-19.
Access to the following regional pathways is localised for each region and access is limited to health providers. If you do not know the login details, contact your DHB or PHO for more information:
