People are being urged to stay home if sick amid a surge in flu cases, pushing "record demand" on health services.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners says a spike in influenza A cases has led to record demand for GP, ambulance and hospital services.
It said flu-related hospitalisations in Auckland doubled last week, reaching 3.781 per 100,000 people.
"Emergency departments remain over capacity in many parts of the country," the organisation said in a statement today.
Last week, Hato Hone St John declared a major incident response and activated its emergency operations centre for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, citing extreme pressure from seasonal illness.
The ambulance service said it had its busiest day on record on Saturday 8 August, receiving 2562 calls through 111, a 34% increase on a typical day. The daily calls record was also broken three times the week before.
RNZCGP President Dr Luke Bradford said people who are sick should stay home to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Stay home when you are sick. Influenza spreads before you feel your worst, and one person who soldiers on at work or school can take out a whole team, class or whānau," he said.
“Most people will recover from the flu at home with rest and fluids. But if you are worried, or you are in a higher-risk group, don’t hesitate to contact your general practice or Healthline early for advice.”
To avoid getting sick, the RNZCGP recommended people get vaccinated, thoroughly wash their hands, cover their mouths and nose when sneezing or coughing, avoid sharing drinks, and avoid crowded areas.
Those who do get sick should stay home, rest in a well-ventilated room away from others, drink plenty of fluids, and use paracetamol for fever and aches.
The RNZCGP said antibiotics will not work, and the best treatment was to rest at home.
"Seek urgent care for difficulty breathing or chest pain, a high fever that will not come down, severe headache or stiff neck, seizures, blue or purple lips or skin, signs of dehydration, or if someone becomes confused or less responsive than normal.
"Call 111 for life-threatening emergencies. Ambulances need to be available for the people who are most unwell."
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