If you test positive for COVID-19
If your test is positive
If you test positive a health professional will call you to discuss:
- all the people you have had contact with recently
- moving you into a quarantine facility.
In a quarantine facility, we can look after your health and wellbeing, and more easily stop the virus from spreading. Your family can join you if you want. Otherwise, they will need to self-isolate at home.
In quarantine, you will get 3 meals a day and snacks, Wi-Fi, laundry services, basic toiletries, and refreshments.
Read more about isolation facilities | miq.govt.nz (external link)
There is no cost to you for these services or the care that you receive. You may be eligible for the COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme if you need to take leave from work.
Going into quarantine
You will usually be asked to move into a quarantine facility as quickly as possible. This helps to make sure we can stop the virus from spreading to others, and make sure you’re well looked after.
The staff at the quarantine facility are well-trained in cleaning and hygiene procedures to keep the disease isolated. They have protective equipment to do this safely.
Quarantine facility staff will closely watch your physical and mental health during your stay.
A staff member from your public health unit will help you in making arrangements, including transport to the facility.
Your household close contacts will need to self-isolate. It’s up to you and your family/household to decide:
- if you want to isolate together in a quarantine facility, or
- if the person with COVID-19 goes into quarantine alone.
A staff member from your public health unit will support you in making these decisions and arrangements.
Self-isolation
Self-isolation means staying at home and taking common sense precautions to avoid close contact with those you live with.
Guidance on self-isolation at home | health.govt.nz (external link)
Staying in quarantine
On arrival, you will get a ‘welcome pack’ with information about what to expect during your stay.
You will get 3 meals a day and snacks, Wi-Fi, laundry services, basic toiletries, and refreshments, so you don’t need to leave to get supplies.
Read more about isolation facilities | miq.govt.nz (external link)
There is no cost to you for these services or the care that you receive.
If you’re unwell, a dedicated health team will be caring for you.
If you become very unwell you may need to go to the hospital. In this case, the hospital will take the steps needed to isolate you while giving you the medical care you need. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you will not need to pay for your stay in quarantine, or any COVID-19 related medical costs.
Returning home from a quarantine facility
The health team that cares for you will determine when you can return home and resume your everyday activities. They will need to be confident you're no longer infectious.
If you had a mild to moderate illness that didn’t need hospital care, this will be:
- at least 10 days after the onset of your symptoms, and
- after you have had no symptoms for at least 72 hours.
If you had a more severe illness that required hospital care you will need more time before you can return home and resume your usual activities. This will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme
If you need to self-isolate and you cannot work from home, your employer (or you if you are self-employed) can apply for the COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme.
The scheme means employees and self-employed people receive an income if they cannot work from home while they’re self-isolating. This includes employees on casual contracts.
The Leave Support Scheme is paid at a flat rate of:
- $585.80 a week for full-time workers who were working 20 hours or more a week
- $350 a week for part-time workers who were working less than 20 hours a week.
Employers, including self-employed people, and employees need to meet certain criteria to apply for the Leave Support Scheme.
Who is eligible for the COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme, and how to apply (external link)
If you need to miss work to stay home while waiting on a COVID-19 test result and cannot work from home, your employer could apply for the COVID-19 Short-term Absence Payment.
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