Support service providers, businesses and their staff have been praised for their role in supporting the Bay of Plenty's COVID-19 assessment centres.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB) Interim Chief Executive Simon Everitt says he wishes to highlight the work of those behind the scenes throughout the COVID-19 response to date.

'The DHB would like to acknowledge a whole range of local businesses and their staff that have stepped up and supported our hospital and health service systems during our COVID-19 response.

'In a situation like this, there is a huge amount of work which goes on in the background which in turn allows the frontline operations to continue as seamlessly as possible. The people carrying out that work are so important, because we couldn't do what we're doing without them. Everyone has had to work as a team.”

The speedy establishment and smooth running of the Community Based Assessment Centres (CBACs) in Tauranga, Whakatāne and in Ōpōtiki, Kawerau and Katikati as well as our mobile services over the course of the response has been indicative of this said Everitt.

'We deeply appreciate how responsive our contractors and service providers have been in helping establish and run the CBACs.

We have been able to set up the grounds, marquees, security and other infrastructure within really short notice periods. It's a great example of the community coming together to support our health services.”

Amongst the providers who helped establish and support running of the CBACs are: Tauranga Race Course, Roadsafe Traffic Management, Aegis Security, Bay Venues, Fulton Hogan, Tauranga Party Hire, Nitrogenx, Food 101, Modcom Portable Buildings Ltd, BOP Event Hire, Bay Venues – Baypark, Katikati Rugby Grounds, Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Johns Photo Pharmacy, Unichem Mount Maunganui, Papamoa Plaza Pharmacy, Unichem Pharmacy Katikati Pathlab, Crest Clean, Waste Management, Traffic Management BOP, Stockland Fencing, PAK'nSAVE, Countdown, White Island Café, J. Dean and R. Manuel Security, Whakatane District Council, Office Max, Vodafone, PB Technology, Law Signs, Glassman and Locksmith, Coastline Electrical, Bon Bon Factory, Kmart, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming, Adamsons Pharmacy, NZ Police, Te Puna Ora o Mataatua, 1XX, Sun FM, Kawerau District Council, Delta Contracting, Opotiki Tau Maui, Opotiki Senior Citizens, Bridge St Café, New World Opotiki, Lowes Hire & Engineering, Pro Med, Bridge FM, Opotiki News, Opotiki District Council, Opotiki Pharmacy, Te Ao Hou Trust, Whakatohea Maori Trust Board and Ngaitai Iwi Authority.

Simon adds his thanks to all those who had similarly helped with ongoing support operations at both Tauranga and Whakatāne hospitals.

'I also want to acknowledge those contractors and service staff who are helping support our hospital network at this time, be that through such activities as facilities work, urgent projects, or in other ways to keep our hospital services operating.

'All of this means that the public can be assured we're doing everything possible to have the appropriate services in place to help manage the impact of COVID-19 on our communities.”

The numbers of people presenting to CBACs has reduced considerably during the past few weeks as a result of there being no active cases in the Bay of Plenty. As a result, the fixed site CBACs are being phased out this week

The CBACs in Kawerau and Ōpōtiki will close on Thursday, 28 May 2020. Katikati and Whakatāne CBACs will close on Friday and the Tauranga CBAC will remain open until Saturday, May 30..

If there was an increase in case numbers in the region and a need to scale the CBACs up again, the DHB would do so.

Mobile assessment centres, including our kaupapa Māori units – Pahi Tahi and Te Puna Ora o Mataatua who service our rural and vulnerable communities are continuing into early June.

People with symptoms of COVID-19 should phone their GP in the first instance for advise on whether it is appropriate to go into the practice to be assessed and tested.