COVID-19: Positive case in Taupō, Mayor David Trewavas warns locals to protect themselves

By RNZ

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that a positive Covid-19 case in Taupō was tested on Thursday after becoming symptomatic earlier in the week.

In a statement, the Ministry said it was yet to determine any links to known cases.

Toi Te Ora is following up on any potential locations of interest, which will be revealed on the Ministry's website.

The case's other household contacts are being tested this morning.

"There is additional testing capacity in and around Taupō today and we urge anyone who may have symptoms, however mild, to visit one of the sites and get a test."

Taupō mayor David Trewavas said locals needed to realise Covid-19 had hit their town and protect themselves.

He said Taupō has been braced for Covid's arrival.

"It's become real, that's for sure. And people have got to be more vigilant. We knew this day would possible come at some stage - we didn't want it to come ,but it has come."

Trewavas said Taupō residents need to wear masks, socially distance and get vaccinated.

Yesterday, Trewavas had urged anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 in his district to get tested, after a positive Covid-19 result in the district's wastewater.

A sample collected from Taupō this week detected the virus.

The Taupō sample was taken on Monday. A further sample taken on Wednesday is still being analysed.

Trewavas said the district had boosted the number of people working on the Covid-19 helplines and its testing sites.

He added that he didn't want people to be reluctant about getting tested, after the Taranaki cases in Stratford.

Six people in the Taranaki town of Stratford tested positive, and were reluctant to get tested.

Trewavas had said he hoped that wasn't the case in his district.

The Ministry of Health is urging anyone in the area who may have symptoms, no matter how mild, to get tested, even if vaccinated.