A Northland hospital has closed a ward to visitors because of Covid-19 numbers.
Photo: 123RF
Dargaville Hospital closed its general ward as soon as there was a spike in the number of patients testing positive for the virus.
The hospital is the second one in Northland to temporarily close wards because of the virus.
Service manager Jen Thomas said the plan to manage the outbreak was immediately initiated, including infection prevention control measures.
She said closures like that were put in place when a contagious virus increased within a localised area.
Northland has had over two 220 new cases each day this week.
Meanwhile, more than 30 aged care facilities have Covid-19 infections in the lower South Island.
The Southern DHB said 22 facilities had residents who had tested positive and 32 had staff off sick with the disease.
Some facilities have temporarily closed to visitors as a precaution to protect their vulnerable residents.
Anyone unsure if they can visit loved ones in residential care should phone the facility.