Testing efforts ramp up after COVID cases

It’s been a week since news of the Taupō District’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 and in that time locals have turned out in droves at both ends of the lake to be tested.

In Taupō, Council made the Taupō Events Centre available to Lakes District Health Board staff to use for testing from Saturday 13 November until demand levelled off on Tuesday 16 November. In Turangi, Council provided assistance with a road closure to allow a temporary COVID-19 testing station to be set up on Atirau Road.

Taupō District Mayor David Trewavas says now that COVID-19 may be circulating in the district, extra vigilance is needed to keep ourselves and others safe and anybody with symptoms should ensure they get tested. An updated list of testing locations is here: www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19/.

Mr Trewavas is also urging everybody to get vaccinated to protect themselves and others. A list of vaccination hubs is at www.bookmyvaccine.nz and Lakes District Health Board posts regular updates on its Facebook page.

The current rate of vaccination in the Taupō District is 76.3% of the eligible population fully vaccinated and 86.4% with one dose only.

“To protect our families, whānau and friends, let’s get this number up,” Mr Trewavas said.

“Let’s get vaccinated, let’s get serious about mask-wearing, let’s scan and let’s social distance – we can do this.”