Covid Alert Level Updates
Updated 14th February 2022
FAQS
Southern Music Therapy has come up with a safety plan to ensure that both our team members and our clients stay safe and well during face-to-face sessions. Some clients will have online sessions to stay safe and well. We can do this via Zoom so please discuss with your therapist.
If a client later tests positive for the Covid 19 we will suspend all face-to-face sessions immediately and conduct a review. A thorough clean will be done on the therapy room.
These guidelines will be reviewed regularly in line with our current Health and Safety Practices. We are committed to implementing all current, required legal practices. This means that if anything changes, we will adapt quickly to make any changes to our sessions.
Thank You
Southern Music Therapy Team
New Zealand Government Update
Omicron response moving into new phase
New Zealand is still early in its Omicron outbreak and cases will grow further. As the number of Omicron cases rise, we are adjusting our response in order to slow the spread of the virus and keep our health services and communities protected.
New Zealand will move to a new phase of its Omicron response from 11:59pm on Tuesday, 15 February 2022.
In this phase, the period of self-isolation for people who test positive for COVID-19 reduces from 14 to 10 days. The period of self-isolation for their household contacts reduces to 10 days unless they themselves test positive.
The period of self-isolation for close contacts reduces from 10 to 7 days. This will apply also to MIQ, meaning that people who are eligible to travel from Australia to New Zealand on 27 February will only have to isolate for seven days.
People should develop a plan for when they need to isolate, and identify a buddy who can drop off essential items if needed. Anyone who experiences symptoms that get worse while they’re isolating – particularly breathlessness – should call Healthline immediately.
Screening for Covid-19 Symptoms Prior To Face to Face Appointments
Please only come if you are well. If you arrive for sessions showing any symptoms of illness you will be sent home immediately.
You will be asked the following questions when you arrive for your session:
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Do you or any other household member have a confirmed COVID-19 infection?
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Do you have any COVID-19 symptoms ie: Do you have new or worsening respiratory symptoms including one of the following: cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, coryza (runny nose) or temporary loss of smell, with or without fever?
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Are you a close contact of a COVID-19 case?
If you answer Yes to any of these questions, you will not be able to have a face-to-face session.
Contact Tracing
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Please scan in with the QR code and sign the register. Also show your vaccine pass. If this is your first session for the year at St John of God you will be asked to fill in the wellness form.
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Any visitor or caregiver will need to scan or manually sign in, wear a mask and provide proof of vaccination. This is so we can keep our contact tracing records up to date.
Physical Distancing
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Your therapist will avoid touching you and will keep a 1 metre distance where possible.
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When you and your therapist are singing, they will stay at least 2 metres away from you where possible to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.
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Group therapy sessions are allowed so long as physical distancing is in place and groups are no larger than 10 people.
Preventing the spread of the virus
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You will be asked to sanitise your hands before and after a session.
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Please cough or sneeze into your elbow.
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Put any used tissues in a bin or bag immediately.
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Wash hands with soap and water often.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
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All instruments, contact points and surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected after each session.
Mask Wearing
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Masks will be worn by all our therapists.
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Masks to be worn where possible by clients
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Children under 12 do not need to wear a mask
Temporary removal of a face mask
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There are times when you may need to remove your mask temporarily. Remember to wash or sanitise your hands before removing your mask and putting it back on.
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In situations where wearing a mask is a legal requirement, you can remove your mask for short periods of time for the following reasons:
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If you are someone who relies on New Zealand Sign Language and/or reading people's facial expressions, including lip reading, or need to communicate with someone who does, you can remove your mask or face covering to communicate, but you must maintain a physical distance of two metres
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If wearing a mask or face covering in the workplace would create a risk to your health and safety, as determined through Health and Safety guidelines
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When eating, drinking or taking medication
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In any situation where wearing a mask or face covering may provide a choking hazard, such as changing clothes
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For a full list please visit:
Mask Exemptions
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Children under 12 except at Red for those aged 8 years or over or year 4 and above when indoors at school and on public and school transport
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At a gathering if there is an exclusive use of the venue ie: Wedding or funeral
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For a full list please visit: https://covid19.govt.nz/prepare-and-stay-safe/keep-up-healthy-habits/wear-a-face-mask/who-does-not-need-to-wear-a-face-mask/
You also do not need to wear a face mask if:
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You have a physical or mental health illness or condition or disability that makes wearing a face mask unsuitable
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You need to communicate with someone who is deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or has a disability which makes it hard to have effective communication
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You need to prove your identity
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For a full list please visit:
Zoom/Telehealth Sessions
All our staff are trained and equipped to offer online sessions. Many of our clients continued with therapy online this year after last years lock downs. We are so proud of how well everyone managed. We take groups and individuals. Megan, below, is also able to work with people outside of the Canterbury region. "We have been so surprised at how well it works, it's like she is in the room with us" Principal of special school. is our specialist in Telehealth Music Therapy. She is a registered music therapist. Trained in New Zealand and based in Melbourne. Megan is working with our remote clients in Timaru and has worked in special education settings for over 20 years. She has a passion for working with clients with physical disabilities and complex high health needs and has recently created a resource called we can play, suitable for home use and educational settings.