Aspiring Medical Centre and Wanaka Medical Centre have announced they are working closely together on a joint local initiative with the Southern District Health Board and Ministry of Health, in an effort to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the local community. Aspiring Medical Centre general manager Caroline Stark said they have set up a combined, dedicated team and facility to respond to any suspected Covid-19 cases, which will function outside our normal practice operations until the Ministry of Health has established Community Based Assessment Centres (CBAC). All patients were now being screened via phone and online portal bookings and again when they arrive for their appointments, she said. "At this stage we have facilities for assessment and testing in order to help reduce possible exposure to patients in the medical centres. Wanaka Medical Centre general manager Michael James said they were asking patients not to come to the practices without an appointment and that included the urgent weekend clinics that have normally operated as walk-in clinics.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 18, 2020 23:37 UTC