No Hamilton locations but plenty of interest as testing surges
Tuesday, 5 October 2021
No significant Hamilton public locations of interest have yet been revealed after a Covid-19 case was found in the city.
Parts of Waikato moved to level 3 lockdown from 11.59pm on Sunday after the Ministry of Health reported two new positive Covid-19 community cases in Waikato on Sunday morning.
Initial tests from household members of the Hamilton East case were negative, and no significant locations of interest had been identified, Waikato DHB executive director of Māori, equity, and health improvement Riki Nia Nia said on Tuesday.
Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate had been seeking information about locations of interest in the city since Monday after getting anxious queries from people who lived and work in Hamilton East.
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Over in Raglan, three members of the initial case’s household had tested positive and had been transferred to an Auckland quarantine facility. Locations of interest can be viewed online.
More than 6000 Covid-19 tests were taken around the Waikato region on Monday.
Nia Nia said contact tracing had continued, but potential exposure events in Hamilton had been direct interactions between individuals or within workplaces, which were followed up by Public Health.
“This is good news so far. With 6000 swabs taken yesterday, we should have a clearer picture emerging today on whether there has been any further community spread.”
The lack of significant locations of interest was likely contributing to the extreme demand for testing, Nia Nia said.
“We have seen that when locations of interest are announced, this has reduced demand for testing as people have that reassurance of whether they have risk and meet the criteria for testing or not.”
Community testing centres at Founders Theatre and Claudelands Event Centre took a combined 1000 swabs on Monday, while the temporary testing site in Raglan did a further 350.
Nia Nia said the DHB was continuing to add capacity across testing sites as the demand for testing was far in excess of previous events.
“We are taking an all hands approach. Our Claudelands site alone is operating eight testing lanes this morning.
“We have responded to previous events, even during this latest resurgence, but the level of demand for testing this week is far higher than we have seen before.
“It is highly reassuring that our community is so responsive in taking steps to keep their whānau and others safe.”
Testing facilities must prioritise individuals with flu-like symptoms, or who are following guidance related to a location of interest, Nia Nia said.
People who were not symptomatic should call Healthline or their GP for guidance before seeking a test.
Community testing centres were operating with extended hours on Tuesday, temporary sites were continuing at Raglan and Huntly, and testing was available at GPs and other providers.
Nia Nia said gates might be closed ahead of this time to prevent new queues forming at the time of closing.
It’s understood the positive cases and their households had been following guidance on mask wearing and social distancing before their diagnoses, a Ministry of Health spokeswoman said.
Hamilton’s mayor Paula Southgate had been asking since Monday about Hamilton locations of interest, after receiving anxious or fearful messages from people who lived or worked in Hamilton East.
“This information did seem to take longer than usual,” Southgate said.
“People want to do the right thing and know if they have been to a location of interest. They want to be able to get tested or self-isolate.”
She was happy to be able to tell people there were no locations of interest, and that anyone who had been in contact with the case had been notified.