Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 31

A shipment of U.S. government-funded medical supplies left Auckland last Friday afternoon bound for Samoa.  Ambassador Scott Brown, U.S. Ambassador to both Samoa and New Zealand, says he was honored to have the opportunity to assist with packing out the shipment.

“The PPE we’re sending includes nearly 100,000 pairs of gloves, tens of thousands of masks, hundreds of surgical gowns, and huge volumes of hand sanitizer,” says
Ambassador Brown. “These supplies will help protect healthcare workers should they be called upon to put their lives at risk to treat COVID patients.”

The shipment comes in response to a request from the island nation’s Government.  “Although Samoa is currently COVID-free, the Samoan Government asked us to help
them procure medical supplies to have on standby in case the virus reaches their islands,” says Ambassador Brown. “We’re happy to help and the U.S. Department of Defense
through   US INDOPACOM stepped up to get it done.”

Worldwide the United States Government has given more than $US20 billion in COVID related assistance.…more

Elvis Lopeti is a professional dancer who travels the world with Parri$ Goebel and the Royal Family.

He is of Tongan descent and is from Otahuhu, South Auckland.

Elvis shares some good things for you to think about when you're getting ready to vote.

Enrol to vote at vote.nz

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#FreshOffTheVote

#Election2020

New Zealand is now at Alert Level 2 restrictions for Auckland (masks on public transport mandatory plus restrictions on mass gatherings) and we'll find out whether this will be extended on Monday the 5th of October.  Alert Level 1 restrictions for the rest of the country.

We're giving daily updates via the Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister on our Facebook page.

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Here is our update for the Pacific Region below - 

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Bianca Seinafo and some friends tell us why it's important to enrol and vote in this year's election. Don't know how to enrol and vote?? Bee has all the info you need right hurrr!

For more information on how to enrol and vote go to: vote.nz

#FreshOffTheVote

#Election2020

Via RNZ 

A man in his 50s linked to the Auckland cluster has died at Middlemore Hospital today, the Ministry of Health has confirmed.

The death toll from Covid-19 in New Zealand is now 23.

The man was a confirmed case of Covid-19 and was being cared for in intensive care at Middlemore.

The ministry said his family were regularly updated, and his wife and son were able to visit him, using full PPE.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said he acknowledged the anxiety New Zealanders "may be feeling about today's news, both in the wider community and also for the family and whanau grieving over this death".

"Our thoughts are with his family and community at this time of loss and grief.

"We have always recognised that further deaths linked to Covid-19 were possible. Although the health system has done and will continue to do everything we can to prevent them, this can be a very challenging virus to treat and for some people to recover from.…more

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson shared in an instagram post earlier today that himself, his wife Lauren Hashian along with their 2 young daughters Jasmine (4yrs) and Tiana (2yrs) are recovering from Covid19 after testing postive about three weeks ago.

He revealed they caught it off close family friends who had visited with them not realising they were positive at the time.  

Dwayne said his two young daughters, exhibited mild symptoms, but he and his wife, Lauren Hashian, were a different story.

"I can tell you that this has been one of the most challenging and difficult things we have ever had to endure as a family," he said. "And for me personally, too, as well, and I've gone through some doozies in the past."

"But I am happy to tell you guys that we as a family are good. We are on the other end of it. We are on the other side. We are no longer contagious. And we are -- thank god -- we are healthy," he said.…more

New Zealand has entered its fourth week of Covid19 community transmission after the initial lockdown earlier in the year.  New Zealand is now at Alert Level 2.5 restrictions for Auckland (masks on public transport mandatory plus restrictions on mass gatherings) and Alert Level 2 restrictions for the rest of the country have been extended.

We're giving daily updates via the Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister on our Facebook page.

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Here is our update for the Pacific Region below - 

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As Auckland adjusted to moving back into Alert Level 2.5 yesterday, a senior Pacific doctor says the Pacific community needs to clearly understand the new restrictions in order to further safeguard their families from Covid-19.

Senior member of the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) Dr Collin Tukuitonga, who also chairs the Pacific Expert Advisory Group to the Associate Minister of Health, says while there’s still community transmission being reported, families should remain alert and embrace the new guidelines.

There are around 132 active cases and more than 127 of which are linked to the Auckland August cluster, which is the largest the country has seen.  
“Three quarters of the cases in the Auckland cluster have been Pasifika people.  It’s important that we continue to adhere to the current guidelines and embrace the new ones,” says Dr Tukuitonga. “Two additional requirements are really important; one is to avoid mass gatherings. People need to understand that there’s a limit of ten people if you want to meet in a group.…more

The impact of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis is deeply affecting our elderly with an increase in anxiety and depression amongst the group, says a leading Pacific old age psychiatrist.