COVID-19 Level 3 Update 10 November 2021
We are OPEN with limited services for patients requiring dental care.
At COVID-19 Alert Level 3, Fraser Smith Lowe Dentists can provide oral health care for our patients that ensures a balance between patients’ access to care and protecting public safety by limiting the opportunities for COVID-19 community spread as set by the Ministry of Health and Dental Council of NZ.
If you are in need of dental care please call us on 09 5767676 first and your dentist or dental hygienist will need to discuss this with you on the telephone to determine if you need to be seen to effectively manage your dental condition, assess your COVID-19 risk and determine whether any safe dental treatment is possible at our practice. Previously scheduled appointments are currently on hold but you are welcome to call the practice should you have any concerns. We will have full PPE available where required and all our staff are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
At Level 3 we will need to ask you detailed questions to determine whether you fall into the low-medium risk or high risk category for dental treatment as determined by the Ministry of Health and Dental Council of NZ before scheduling an appointment for you:
COVID-19 questions:
• Do you have a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19?
• Are you a probable COVID-19 case?
• Are you required to self-isolate and/or waiting for COVID-19 test results?
• Do you have new or worsening respiratory symptoms including one of the following: new or worsening cough, sneezing and runny nose, sore throat, fever, temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste, shortness of breath?
• Do you have any of the less common symptoms, such as: diarrhoea, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, malaise, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain or confusion/irritability - where there is no other likely diagnosis?
If YES to any symptoms - In the 14 days before the start of your symptoms have you:
• had close contact with someone who is a probable or confirmed COVID-19 case?
• been in attendance at a current location of interest?
• travelled internationally (excluding travel by air from a country/area with which New Zealand has quarantine-free travel (QFT))?
• had direct contact with someone who has travelled overseas (excluding travel by air from a QFT country/area). This includes border staff, quarantine and isolation facility staff, and international aircraft and shipping vessel crew, except those who have travelled exclusively between New Zealand and QFT destinations?
• exited an MIQ facility (excluding recovered COVID-19 cases)?
• worked on an international aircraft or shipping vessel (excluding aircraft from a QFT country/area)?
• cleaned at an international airport or maritime port in areas/conveniences visited by international arrivals (excluding areas/conveniences for travellers by air from a QFT country/area)?
• worked in cold storage areas of facilities that receive imported chilled and frozen goods directly from an international or maritime port?
• travelled from an area with an evolving community outbreak (including in New Zealand and any other country/area with which New Zealand has QFT)?
When attending our practice please arrive as close as possible to your appointment time, wait in your car and call us on 09 5767676 to advise us of your arrival and we will come to escort you in when we are ready. Please wear a mask into the building, practice safe distancing, use the hand sanitiser provided and the are QR codes to scan upstairs. Please advise us should you require any support people to attend with you.
To all of our patients and their families do stay safe.
