Pandemic knocking on Wellington's door with cases in Tararua, locations in Wairarapa

The pandemic has arrived on Wellington’s doorstep with confirmed cases in Tararua and news that a Covid-positive person spent a weekend in Wairarapa.

But if the virus makes it over the Remutaka ranges, it will be greeted by a population that is just 11,088 jabs away from having 90 per cent of the eligible Capital and Coast District Health Board population fully-vaccinated. Meanwhile, 11,631 in the Hutt Valley need their second jab to reach the 90 per cent government target.

News of the Tararua cases – the closest the virus has come to Wellington since 17 cases were contained in August – comes as most educators and health workers face judgment day on Monday, when they have to have had their first dose of the Covid vaccination if they want to come to work in person.

Two-hundred-and-seven community cases of Covid-19 were announced on Sunday, mostly in Auckland but also seven in Waikato, two in Northland, two around Rotorua, and two in Tararua.

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“You can see it now, creeping down the island,” said Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson​​ in the wake of four locations of interest being confirmed in Wairarapa after a person, who later tested positive, spent a weekend there after arriving from Taupō.

“It will be Wellington ... your turn soon.”

Masterton is 101 kilometres from downtown Wellington over the State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill Rd. Paterson and South Wairarapa Mayor Alex Beijen believed there would be more places of interest coming as it seemed improbable a person would visit Wairarapa for the weekend and restrict public outings to a gas station, a burger bar, a fried chicken joint, and The Warehouse.

The Ministry of Health has identified one of the locations of interest in Pahiatua – 163km from Wellington – on Friday.

Wellington, which has dodged major transmission of the Delta variant before, can now just wait and hope that the virus doesn’t get over the Remutaka ranges.

Wellington Mayor Andy Foster previously said it was “very, very clear” that the Delta strain of the virus would return to Wellington.

The current Delta outbreak, centred around Auckland and Waikato, reached Wellington in August with news three people had been moving around the city unaware they had the virus. While Wellington cases did increase to 17, that is where they stayed.

The total nationwide numbers of the current community outbreak hit 5578 on Sunday – the vast majority in Auckland, but also in Waikato, Northland, Nelson and Marlborough, Canterbury, Rotorua, Tararua, Taupō, and the earlier 17 in Wellington.

If – or when – Covid comes back to Wellington, it will land amid a relatively vaccinated population.

Ministry of Health data from Sunday shows 93 per cent of the eligible population in the Capital & Coast District Health Board area had received their first dose of vaccine, while 86 per cent had their second dose.

Just 11,088 more people needed their second dose for Wellington to reach the 90 per cent rate of people fully vaccinated.

Lower North Island locations of interest:

• Challenge Petrol Station Greytown, 2.55pm to 4.10pm on Saturday, November 6.
• Master Fried Chicken Lunch Bar, Masterton, 7.45am to 9.15am on Saturday November 6.
• The Warehouse, Masterton, 7.45am to 9.15am on Saturday November 6.
• McDonald’s Masterton, 10.30am to 12.45pm on Sunday, November 6.
• Caltex Woodville, 9am to 9.30am on Saturday November 13.
• Farmlands, Pahiatua, 3.30pm to 4pm on Friday November 12.