It's time to make a plan

For many people, COVID-19 will feel like a mild to heavy cold, and they will be able to safely soothe their symptoms while they rest and recover at home.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you will need to isolate for 7 days, most likely in your own home.

There are a few things you can do to make isolation safer and less stressful for your whole household:

• Have some extra food that's easy to heat and eat in the freezer or pantry
• Make sure you have enough cleaning supplies
• Get extra refills of any regular medications,
• Know who to call to for help

Start talking with your whānau now about what you will do if someone gets sick. Make sure you put the information you need in one place and that everyone knows where to find it.

Here are a couple of tools to help:

• Household plan to fill in
• Preparing your whare checklist

Other resources are available at:

• Unite against COVID-19 *data free*
• Health Navigator *data free*
• Protect our whakapapa

Important contacts

Identify people outside of your home who could help if your household is isolating, for example by dropping off food or supplies

Who can you ask for help or support?

Who will look after your children, pets, or other people you usually care for?

Who else might you need to contact?

Think about friends, family, neighbours, or support workers who could deliver food or supplies to you at home or just be around to chat.

Think about your local doctor, pharmacy, schools, vets.

You can fill all of these numbers in on this plan

Medical information    

What do ambulance or medical staff need to know immediately to keep you safe?

What access or medical equipment would you need to bring with you if you have to go to hospital or an isolation facility?

What health conditions, allergies, medication, communication needs, mobility needs do you have?

You can fill all of this information in on this plan

Make sure you have extra supplies of any medications you take regularly. It may be more difficult to get these quickly in larger quantities.

Prepare your whānau and whare

Talk with your tamariki and whānau about what the plan is if someone gets sick or has to go to hospital and how to reach out for help if they need it.

Is there space in your home for you to keep yourself separate from the rest of the household? Do you have access to other options through friends or whānau such as a campervan, sleepout, cabin?

Make sure you have plenty of food and hygiene supplies

• Pre-cook and freeze some meals that are easy to heat and eat when needed
• Cook bigger meals and freeze the leftovers
• Fruit and vegetables
  
• Tinned foods
• Dried food like pasta or rice
• Fluids
• Baby supplies
• Pads or tampons
• Hygiene products
• First aid supplies
• Personal medication
  

Here's a handy checklist to help with your planning.

How to keep each other safe

Read more about keeping each other safe on the Unite Against COVID-19 website.