Jamaine Paikea took advantage of the testing facilities outside the Te Awamutu Events Centre today. Waikato DHB nurse Ana Zafra, from
Hamilton, pictured taking a swab, has spent much of the year on the front line helping with the fight.
Waikato’s Covid outbreak is slowly growing with more cases detected in Te Awamutu.
All the Waipā cases are linked to the current Waikato outbreak.
Two locations of interest in Te Awamutu have been listed by the Ministry of Health as part of the current COVID-19 outbreak.
They are:
- Fresh Choice Te Awamutu, 39 Rewi Street on Tuesday, October 12 – between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.
- College Superette, 943 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu on Tuesday, October 12 – between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.
- College Superette, 943 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu on Wednesday, October 13 – between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.
Waikato DHB says the small number of locations of interest indicates contact has largely been limited to between individuals and in private settings.
This is supported by its testing data with cases almost exclusively linked to other known cases.
Deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk and the DHB are encouraging the community to maintain high testing rates to provide confidence that any undetected cases of Covid-19 are picked up in the community.
“Here is an example of why we need everyone to be using the app, or recording their visits to locations manually. It’s the quickest way to trace where you have been.
“We need to ensure anyone who needs it, gets tested. Even if you have just a runny nose, get tested. It is imperative we stamp out Covid-19 in our community.”
When the News visited the Te Awamutu testing station this morning there was a trickle of cars – but the DHB had enough staff on deck to cater for a lot more.
There may have been expectations of more cars – and the Events car park was set up for them – after reports of more cases of Covid being found in Te Awamutu.
Pop-up testing is available at:
- Te Awamutu Event Centre carpark, Gorst Avenue, Te Awamutu,10am – 4.30pm
- Kihikihi Sports Domain, Gate 2, Speedway entrance, Kihikihi 10am – 2pm
- Pirongia Memorial Hall, 997 Franklin Street, Pirongia 10am-3pm.
Waipā continues to lead the way for vaccinations in Waikato with 87 per cent having their first jab and 68 per cent fully vaccinated
