The Bay of Plenty town of Katikati is on high alert after a person tested positive yesterday for Covid-19, with new locations of interest in the region named by the Ministry of Health this morning
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The infected person was tested in Auckland, but were in the Bay when the result arrived.
Extra Covid-19 testing and vaccination sites have now been set up in Katikati.
A vaccination clinic at the Katikati RSA and Citizens Club on the corner of Henry and Main Roads, will be open until 2pm today.
Testing centres at the Katikati Medical Centre and the Rugby Clubrooms will be open until 4:30p,m and the clubrooms site will be extended if necessary.
Vaccination clinics are also open in other parts of Bay of Plenty today, including walk-in sites at BayPark, 1st Avenue and various pharmacies.
This morning the ministry website listed three locations of interest in Katikati.
- Good Life Opportunity Shop on 12 Main Road on Thursday 7 October between 11.05am and 12.25pm
- Hammer Hardware at 58F Main Road on Thursday 7 October between 10am and midday
- Waipuna Hospice Shop at 17 Main Road on Thursday 7 October between 11.15am and 12.50pm
- Katikati Antiques and Interiors on 22 Main Road on Thursday 7 October between 10.55am and 12.20pm
- Mural Town Traders on 10 Main Road on Thursday 7 October between 10.55pm and 12.20pm
- The Bottle-O Katikati on 74 Main Road on Friday 8 October between 7.15pm and 8.45pm
Anyone who has visited these locations at the specified times is asked to stay home and get an immediate Covid-19 test, as well as another test five days after visiting the location. People are asked to stay home until they receive a negative fifth day test result.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Health last night said the person lives in Pukekohe and is in the process of moving to a rural area north of Katikati.
"The test result has a high CT value usually seen in the early or late stage of infection and is under further investigation, including a repeat test," the ministry said.
"The person has been permitted to cross the boundary in and out of Auckland as they are in the process of shifting house.
"As part of this, the individual has been having regular surveillance testing - at least five tests have been taken since the beginning of September, the most recent prior test was 5 October. All five of those tests were negative."
The ministry said the person consistently used the contact tracing app and is fully vaccinated.
Western Bay of Plenty mayor Garry Webber said Katikati is hoping to prevent further infection.
He said the result was a weak positive.
"But regardless of what it is, it is here in one shape or form and we just have to get into preventative mode."
Webber said he would support the region moving to alert level 3 if that was what were needed to protect the community.
Webber is urging people to get tested and vaccinated.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board chief executive Pete Chandler expected a Covid-19 case would emerge in the region eventually, pointing to the wave of cases moving across the country.
He urges people to stay calm, follow social distancing and mask rules, use the scanner app and get a vaccination.
Chandler expects any changes to the region's alert level 2 status to hinge on the person's movements.
The Ministry of Health last night said that family members of the positive case had been contacted and tests were arranged. The person's close contacts are currently isolating and results from the tests are expected today.
The following Covid-testing stations will be open in Katikati and Tauranga today, the ministry said.
- Katikati Medical Centre, 4 Clive Road, 8.30am - 4.30pm
- Katikati Rugby and Sports Clubrooms, Fairview Rd, Katikati 8.30am - 4.30pm (hours will be extended if there is high-demand)
- Tauranga Accident and HealthCare, 19 Second Avenue, 8.00am - 6.00pm