Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. It is vital that we all remain vigilant to prevent the spread of the virus by practising good hand hygiene, wearing masks when advised, and staying home if unwell.

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on how we interact with others, work, study and go about our lives. We know that a combination of stress and uncertainty can have significant and wide-reaching impacts on the mental well-being of people in New Zealand. We want people to know it is normal to not feel all right all the time – it’s understandable to feel sad, distressed, worried, confused, anxious or angry during this crisis. Everyone reacts differently to difficult events, and some may find this time more challenging than others. The ways people think, feel and behave are likely to change over time – we all have good days and bad days.

At the Auckland Women’s Health Council we have been carrying on our work, meeting by Zoom when we cannot meet in person and producing our electronic newsletter, making written submissions for public consultations and making oral submissions by Zoom. We’ve continued to collaborate with members of our wider women’s health community, just not in person as much we used to.

If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant you can find information about Covid and pregnancy and birth on the Ministry of Health website or on the New Zealand College of Midwives website.