COVID-19 Updates

This page is where Ending HIV will host all relevant updates about how COVID-19 is affecting NZAF services and offices. Last updated - Friday 22 May

Rest assured we are committed to continuing to support our communities as best we can at this time - our centres have reopened and we can resume booked counselling and testing appointments!

We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to break the chain of HIV transmission.⁠
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Don't ignore this chance to get tested for HIV and other STIs before heading back out into the world and into the “arms” of your next sexual partner/s.⁠
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We're not saying you should be rushing out to start hooking up again - but there will come a time when you are, so we've put together some tips on how to do this responsibly.⁠

SECTIONS

Email Updates Testing services Counselling & Mental Health Offices COVID-19 & people living with HIV Sex PrEP Staying Connected

Email Updates

You can sign up here to be kept informed about the status of NZAF services.

Testing services

Due to the COVID-19 crisis and alert level restrictions, there are changes across a number of services:

NZAF testing centres are have reopened for booked appointments. Head to our test-booking tool to find an appointment that works for you.
You can still order an HIV self-test that you can do at home - please bear in mind COVID-19 may affect delivery times.
Many sexual health clinics are open for appointments - call or email ahead to discuss your situation.
You can also contact your local GP / family doctor to request HIV or STI testing, if you have any concerns. It's still a good idea to call or email ahead.

Counselling & Mental Health

NZAF will continue to offer counselling services. We can now resume face-to-face counselling - meanwhile, our counsellors are still able to hold sessions via phone or video if that is the best option for you. Head to the counselling booking form to get in touch.

Also, check out this article for advice on how to look after your anxiety during this time.

Offices

NZAF's National and Regional offices will reopen by Monday 25 May. Please note, contact tracing and physical distancing processes will be in place to ensure the safety of staff and visitors - have your smart device ready to check-in digitally.

COVID-19 and people living with HIV

Over at NZAF they also monitoring the latest understandings and medical advice on how COVID-19 might affect people living with HIV - read more here

Sex

A silver lining of the dark cloud of COVID-19 is that it presents us with an incredible opportunity to actually break the chain of transmission for other viruses - like, say, HIV! Read more here to find out what we should be doing before we're let back out into the world and the "arms" of future sexual partners.

After weeks of self-isolation, we’re all adjusting into our new routines. But physical distancing is still a priority for reducing transmissions of COVID-19 – so how does that affect our sex lives?

To help make things more clear, we’ve put together our top 5 tips for playing safe in this unprecedented time. We can’t pick and choose with these if we want to stamp out COVID - everyone needs to take action in all of these areas!

Also, if you can still keep things digital and want advice - read our blogs Top Tips For Tasteful Nudes and Love In The Time of Alert Levels 3 & 4 for how to get your rocks off and stil maintain physical distancing!

PrEP

Due to the COVID-19 crisis and alert level restrictions, it may impact your ability to get PrEP at this time - but there are options for accessing PrEP under level-2:

Many sexual health clinics are open for appointments - call or email ahead to discuss your situation.
You can also contact your local GP / family doctor to request PrEP

Note on discontinuing PrEP: For cisgender men who have sex with men, PrEP can be safely discontinued by taking the tablets for two consecutive days (48 hours) after your last condomless sex – it doesn’t matter if you take it daily or on-demand (2-1-1). If you are not a cisgender man who has sex with man, the current guidelines recommend to continue taking PrEP for 28 days since your last condomless sex before it can be discontinued. It is important to remember that HIV testing needs to be done prior to restarting PrEP.

Staying Connected

Physical distancing doesn't need to be lonely.

Check out this blog about digital spaces for our trans and gender diverse whānau to connect with others in their community.

If you're looking for general tips and tricks for keeping in touch and having some fun while you're at it - check out this blog about some virtual ways to socialise with your circle while we physically isolate.

Read the blog Top Tips For Tasteful Nudes for tips for sending nudes while in lockdown.