New positive COVID-19 case in Eltham
11 December 2021
The Ministry of Health has confirmed a new COVID-19 community case in Eltham this evening.
Taranaki DHB’s Public Health Unit has said that, at this stage, the case is not linked to any of the previously reported cases in New Plymouth or Waitara.
The new case is currently isolating at home.
Case investigation work is underway to identify any close contacts and locations of interest.
Locations considered high risk to the public will be shared on the Ministry of Health’s website as soon as available. Please visit COVID-19: Contact tracing locations of interest | Ministry of Health NZ.
Taranaki DHB’s COVID-19 incident controller, Becky Jenkins, says the best way to determine if there is community transmission in Eltham or wider areas is to increase testing.
“Taranaki health service providers will be standing up a public clinic for easy access to testing for the Eltham community on Sunday at Eltham Kohanga Reo, 24 York Street from 10am – 3pm. We encourage anyone who has symptoms, no matter how mild, to please get tested as soon as possible.”
COVID-19 testing will be available at the following locations on Sunday 12 December:
- Eltham Kohanga Reo, 24 York Street, 10am – 3pm (run by Ngaruahine)
- Eltham Main Road, 9am – 1pm (saliva testing run by Ngati Ruanui)
- Hāwera Hospital testing centre, 10am – 1pm
- Taranaki Base Hospital testing centre, 9am – 3pm
Taranaki DHB will advise of any additional pop-up clinic locations, including Stratford, over the next few days as more information becomes available.