College of GPs urges people to stay home if they are unwell

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) is urging New Zealanders to stay home if they are unwell, as influenza A pushes general practice, ambulance and hospital services to record levels of demand.

Hato Hone St John activated a major incident response on Sunday 9 August - its first Emergency Operations Centre activation since the COVID-19 pandemic - after taking 2,562 emergency calls through 111 on Saturday 8 August, the busiest single day on record and well above a normal day of around 1,900 calls.

Hospitals are under the same strain. Flu-related hospitalisations in Auckland doubled in a week, reaching 3.781 per 100,000 people for the week ending 9 August, up from 1.574 the week before. Emergency departments remain over capacity in many parts of the country.

College President Dr Luke Bradford says the most helpful thing New Zealanders can do right now costs nothing.

“Stay home when you are sick. Influenza spreads before you feel your worst, and one person who soldiers on at work or school can take out a whole team, class or whānau.

“Most people will recover from the flu at home with rest and fluids. But if you are worried, or you are in a higher-risk group, don’t hesitate to contact your general practice or Healthline early for advice.”

Protecting yourself and others

• Get your flu vaccine - it is not too late, and this season’s vaccine is a good match for the strains circulating.
• Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and dry them for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, don’t share drinks, and avoid crowded places.
• If you are unwell, stay home and rest in a separate, well-ventilated room away from others if you can. Adults are most infectious in the first three to five days.
• Rest, drink plenty of fluids, and use paracetamol for fever and aches.
• Antibiotics do not work on influenza - it is a virus. There is no specific treatment; most people recover well at home.
• The worst symptoms usually last about five days, but a cough can linger for two to three weeks.

When to get help

Contact your general practice or call Healthline free on 0800 611 116 if you are not improving after a few days, are pregnant, are taking medication that affects your immune system, or have a long-term condition.

Seek urgent care for difficulty breathing or chest pain, a high fever that will not come down, severe headache or stiff neck, seizures, blue or purple lips or skin, signs of dehydration, or if someone becomes confused or less responsive than normal.

Call 111 for life-threatening emergencies. Ambulances need to be available for the people who are most unwell.

To speak to a College spokesperson please email communications@rnzcgp.org.nz or call or text the College media phone on 021 027 81909.