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The family of the seventh person to die of a coronavirus in Christchurch says they will “treasure” a gesture by hospital staff to wrap their mother and nanny in a special korowai.
Public Health Director Dr. Caroline McElnay confirmed Friday that the 80-year-old woman died Thursday at Burwood Hospital.
A man in his 90s also died of coronavirus at Waikato Hospital on Thursday, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in New Zealand to 11.
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON / THINGS
A woman in her 80s from Rosewood Rest Home and Hospital in Christchurch died Thursday at Burwood Hospital.
Canterbury District Board of Health Executive Director David Meates said Friday that while they couldn’t be with the woman when she died, a staff member was with her to provide “comfort, reassurance and care.”
READ MORE:
* Coronavirus: Three more Rosewood Rest Home residents die of Covid-19, six in total
* Coronavirus: Another Covid-19 death related to Christchurch Rosewood Rest Home
* Coronavirus: Deficiencies found in nursing homes with Covid-19 cases
“We were pleased to be able to comply with their whānau’s request to wrap a korowai around their mother. They explained that the feathers represented the fingers of their children and grandchildren,” he said.
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Public Health Director Dr. Caroline McElnay says that given the “frailty” and age of the other Rosewood patients, they were not yet “out of the woods” and there was still potential for them to deteriorate.
He shared a note the woman’s family sent, saying it was special that the staff caring for her could “take photos and a video of Mom in our holy korowai. We will treasure it forever.”
“I know you guys are just doing your job, but at this level of intimacy within a family, I don’t think any training can prepare you. Our entire family is very grateful and I hope you are all doing well too.” note said.
McElnay said that given the “frailty” and age of the other Rosewood patients, they were not yet “out of the woods” and there was still potential for them to deteriorate.
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON / THINGS
As of Friday, there were 38 confirmed or probable Rosewood-related cases, two new cases in the past 24 hours.
The latest deaths follow that of four men, two 90-year-old and one 80-year-old from Rosewood Rest Home and Hospital who died at Burwood Hospital, and another 70-year-old man who died in Wellington.
All three men who died in Burwood had underlying health conditions.
There are six residential care facilities for the elderly across the country that have had Covid-19 cases. The Director General of Health, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, has commissioned site reviews.
The Canterbury District Board of Health would also complete a review of all the systems and processes in place at Rosewood and at George Manning, another Christchurch senior care facility associated with a group of coronavirus cases.
As of Friday, there were 38 confirmed or probable Rosewood-related cases, two new cases in the past 24 hours. Three DHB staff members had tested positive for coronavirus relative to the Rosewood group.
The first person to die of Covid-19 in New Zealand was West Coaster Anne Guenole, in her 70s. He died at Gray Base Hospital in Greymouth on March 29.
As of Friday, there were 1,409 confirmed or probable cases of coronavirus in New Zealand, an increase of 8 from Thursday.
There are 14 people in the hospital, including three in intensive care, two of whom were in critical condition.
A total of 816 people have recovered from the virus so far.
Nationally, 74,401 tests have been carried out.
