Doctors in holiday hot spots are issuing a plea for visitors to prepare for the possibility they could get Covid-19 while away, as general practices and pharmacies are already 'under the pump”.

Any day now, holidaymakers will start flocking en masse to some of the country's gems, including Northland, Coromandel, Gisborne, Nelson and Bay of Plenty for the Christmas and New Year period.

These are all also areas that have smaller, and already 'stretched”, healthcare infrastructure.

Dr Mike Loten​, who owns the only medical practice in the west coast surf town of Raglan, has a big message for people: 'Don't come on holiday if you're sick, wait until you're well.”

Mike is bringing on additional locum staff to help manage the extra workload that comes with the 'summer influx”, and, with Covid-19 cases high, is anticipating needing to support visitors to Raglan with the virus.

They love visitors, but to be able to provide for them and ensure they have a good experience, there needs to be people to keep the shops open, and working in medical centres, he says.

'We're very stretched – not just health services – and need to be able to keep [things] open.”

Dr Mike Loten, a GP owner at Raglan Medical, says there are easy things people can do over the holiday period to help protect themselves and others: like wearing a mask in shared indoor spaces and staying home if sick. Photo: Dominico Zapata/Stuff/Waikato Times.

Ben Van Den Borst​, pharmacist at My Pharmacy Papamoa Plaza, says they're already seeing visitors, as a local medical clinic had to close early this week after too many staff tested positive for Covid-19.

'That sort of stuff is happening ... [and] local providers are already under the pump as it is.”

It's up to all of us to protect each other, so places can stay open, and ensure health facilities can 'look after everyone” during this time of 'high demand”, he says.

Here's how you can help ease some of that pressure if you're headed to a holiday hot spot:

Before you go

• Make a plan for if you test positive for Covid-19 and need to isolate or change your holiday plans at short notice. Can you stay where you are? How would you get home?
• Find out where you can access health services when you're away.

Test if you feel sick

Te Whatu Ora interim national medical director Dr Pete Watson​ says if you test positive and you're well enough to drive back home you can, but only if you travel via a private or work vehicle with only your immediate family or household members.

'If that isn't possible for whatever reason, you need to be able to isolate where you are or find somewhere else to isolate.”

Pete says a key thing people can do is save the following free-call numbers into their phone:

• Healthline (for Covid-19 health advice) – 0800 358 5453;​
• Healthline (for general health and information) – 0800 611 116;​
• There's also a dedicated Covid disability helpline: 0800 11 12 13.​

What to pack

• Make sure you've got rapid antigen tests and masks – officials recommend five RATs per person.
• If you take regular medication, ensure you've got enough to cover at least an extra week if you test positive and have to isolate – including inhalers or other essential equipment. Ben says sourcing a prescription over the holidays can be 'really tricky” – being prepared is much easier.

You can still get free RATs from a range of locations. Search here for the closest place to get a test, or request free RATs here requestrats.covid19.health.nz.

-Hannah Martin/Stuff.