Covid-19: Locations of interest in Wairarapa, Tararua districts released

Locations of interest in Wairarapa and Tararua have appeared on the Ministry of Health's website, after two Covid positive cases from Taupo visited the area last weekend.

File photo. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Three locations of interest in Masterton were released by the Ministry of Health last night and two further locations in nearby towns were added to the list today.

One is the Challenge petrol station in Greytown, and the other is the Caltex petrol station in Woodville, in the Tararua region.

New locations were also added in Pahiatua, Otorohanga, Hamilton and Taupo.

More details about these exposure events are available on the Ministry of Health website.

Four new community cases in Taupo were confirmed yesterday. The Ministry of Health said the first of these cases and a close contact had travelled to Masterton last weekend.

Two other cases were reported overnight in the Tararua district covered by MidCentral DHB.

"Both cases reported feeling unwell on Friday 12 November, sought prompt testing and are now self-isolating at home," the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

"The cases are linked and the local Public Health Unit is still investigating any links between these cases and other known cases.

"Anyone living in these areas or any recent visitors with Covid-19 related symptoms, no matter how mild, should get tested."

Masterton mayor Lynn Patterson has called for people to continue to follow the health rules, get vaccinated if they have not already and to get tested if they have any symptoms.

"It's just important for people to just carry on. We know the rules, and to stick to the rules - wear a mask, contact trace, sanitise, and look after themselves," she said.

Patterson said 86 percent of eligible people in Masterton had received a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while 75 percent were fully vaccinated.

She said the spread of the virus was concerning but not unexpected.

"We have the capacity to do a lot of tests," she said. "So, those that were at locations of interest or having any Covid symptoms, (we) encourage them to get tested."

Today there were 207 new community cases announced in New Zealand and one death.