Covid-19 in Blenheim

The Ministry of Health confirmed, on Saturday morning, that a weak positive case of Covid-19 was discovered in Blenheim on late Friday. No announcement has been made by the Ministry about any change in alert levels for the top of the South.

Certainly, this will show that the South Island is vulnerable just as the North Island and that people in the top of the South need to get vaccinated so that we can try as hard as possible to reach 90 per cent. We have to try hard so we have the best chance to shift alert levels that we now live with.

The current public health assessment is that the risk appears low given the individual’s likely late stage of infection.

So far, initial case interviews have identified a small number of close contacts, who have been contacted and are currently isolating with tests arranged.

Interviews are also being undertaken to determine any locations of interest. People living in the Blenheim township are asked to monitor the Ministry of Health’s locations of interest page, which is regularly updated.

We are also asking Blenheim residents with symptoms – no matter how mild – to please get tested, even if they are vaccinated.

Investigations into the source of the infection are underway. However, initial case interviews suggest the case is linked to the Te Awamutu cluster.