Be prepared for getting Covid-19

Omicron spreads fast - everyone in your home or bubble may catch the virus. Being ready for getting Covid-19 is about making sure you and your household have a plan and know what to do. It will mean your whānau and community can help each other if needed.

Most people who get Covid-19 will have a mild to moderate illness, and will fully recover in their own home. For those who need help, the healthcare system will always be available.

You need to work out what you will do if someone in your household tests positive for Covid-19, because your entire household will need to stay home.

Food and supplies

Organise with friends, whānau or neighbours to do contactless drop-offs of food and supplies. Services like The Student Volunteer Army might be able to help with drop-offs.

Extra care and support

Are there people in your household who might need extra care or support? Talk to any in-home carers you have and agree in advance about what will happen if you need to isolate. Many people will be able to manage self-isolation with help from friends and whānau, but there is extra help available if you need it.

You can also reach out to Te Papa Manaaki | Campus Care, a safe, confidential and free service that supports the health, wellbeing and
safety of everyone at University.

Work and school

Prepare to learn and study from home. The Remote learning support section of the website has all the support services, resources, and information you need to get support and stay in the know.

Write down instructions

Write down any household instructions someone else could easily follow if you get sick and have to go into managed isolation or hospital. Cover things like feeding pets, paying bills and watering plants.

How will you minimise the spread

Think about how you could set up your home to minimise Covid-19 spreading. Draw a map of your home and mark out your zones, for example shared areas, isolation areas, and a sanitising station.

Opening windows will help to improve ventilation. Practice healthy habits like coughing and sneezing into your elbow, and washing hands to reduce the spread of germs.

Work out what you will need to help yourself and those around you.

Make a list of whānau or flatmate information
Include everyone's names, ages, NHI numbers, any medical conditions and medication they normally take, or medical supplies each person will need. Include emergency contact information like your doctor,
afterhours, and any support agencies.

Find activities to pass the time
What might help support your mental health if you are isolating at home? The Student Ambassadors have put together a range of tips and resources whether you’re looking to stay connected to the wider world, trying to stay motivated, or trying to practice compassion and mindfulness towards yourself and others. Check out ways to Stay well during Covid-19.

Put together a hygiene kit:

• tissues
• soap
• sanitiser
• masks
• cleaning products and gloves
• rubbish bags (try to have separate bags for tissues before putting them in your
  main rubbish bags).

Have items to help with symptoms:

• ibuprofen and/or paracetamol
• drinks and other medications that help with cold and flu-like symptoms, like lemon tea with honey, and cough syrup
• nasal spray, throat lozenges, vapour rubs.

Kōrero together - make sure everyone in your household knows what will happen when you need to isolate. Share plans with those supporting and helping you (or who you are supporting).

Share your plan with wider whānau, neighbours and regular manuhiri/visitors and talk to them about what you will need them to do and how you can help each other.

Work out how to let people know your household is isolating. This could be a sign for your front door and having a QR code poster so people can keep track of where they have been. If people are helping with contactless drop-offs, do you want them to text or message before they arrive? Beep the car horn from the gate? Use an agreed entrance? 

If you do test positive, the University and government have robust processes in place to support you.

Learn more about the University of Auckland’s Covid-19 personal status and notification process. 

Learn more about what to expect from the government if you test positive for Covid-19.