No positive COVID-19 cases following busy weekend of testing in Taranaki

7 November 2021

There are no new cases of COVID-19 to report for the Taranaki region at the end of a busy weekend of testing.

Taranaki DHB’s Incident Management Team controller, Becky Jenkins says around 1,000 COVID-19 tests have been completed in Taranaki since Friday 5 November, following the detection of a positive COVID-19 sample from Stratford’s wastewater.

“We’ve had results back for approximately 600 tests which have all been negative.

“The highest testing rates are from Stratford East and Stratford West. Maori testing rates per head of population are higher than non-Maori for these areas. 

“It’s been a really successful weekend of testing and I’d like to acknowledge and thank all the testing teams for their wonderful mahi, who have worked together to stand up mobile and pop-up clinics throughout the region,” says Mrs Jenkins.

Wastewater sampling has continued across the weekend in Stratford, as well as samples being collected from Hāwera, Opunake and Patea. In addition, grab samples are expected to be collected from Kaponga, Manaia and Waverley starting early this week.

Samples collected over the weekend and Monday will be tested at ESR on Tuesday, with results expected by Wednesday 10 November. The wastewater test from New Plymouth on 4 November did not detect any COVID-19.

Mrs Jenkins says we’re not out of the woods yet and more testing needs to be done to ensure there’s no community transmission in Stratford or the wider region.

“Testing is the only way of knowing if COVID-19 is here in Taranaki. We must test as many people as possible, especially those who have cold or flu-like symptoms – even slightly mild, or have been travelling outside the region or been to a location of interest.”

Testing clinics will be available throughout Taranaki this week, including another pop-up clinic in Stratford at the War Memorial Hall car park from 12-2pm on Monday.

“I urge anyone who is still not vaccinated against COVID-19 to make an appointment straight away. The Delta variant is highly transmissible so the best protection for people is to be fully vaccinated,” says Mrs Jenkins.

For a full list of vaccination clinics in Taranaki please visit Book My Vaccine | Ministry of Health NZ (covid19.health.nz).

Last updated: Thursday, December 21, 2023