Covid-19 Delta outbreak: ‘low risk’ of Katikati case spreading virus to others, health officials say

Health officials say there is a “small risk” of further spread of Covid-19 in the Bay of Plenty after a person living near Katikati tested positive for the virus.

Test results from the case, the first in Bay of Plenty associated with Delta’s latest outbreak, suggested the infection was in its early stages.

The person, who was moving from Pukekohe to a rural area north of Katikati, was fully vaccinated and reported no symptoms other than seasonal hay fever before testing positive.

They used the tracking app regularly and had undergone regular surveillance tests as they had been allowed to cross the Auckland border to relocate.

At least five tests had been carried out since early September, the most recent having taken place on October 5. All five were negative.

All of the case’s family members have been tested and are currently in isolation.

Bay of Plenty and Lakes District Health Board’s Covid-19 Incident Controller Dr Phil Shoemack said it would take 10 to 14 days to know for sure there had been no further spread of the virus. virus.

“If everyone follows the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, it benefits them and everyone around them,” he said.

“If everyone did this, we would go through this with less risk. “

Shoemack said people who had been to Katikati should keep an eye out for places of interest and any ministry updates.

For other residents of Bay of Plenty, Shoemack said it’s important to check the Department of Health’s website regularly and follow the advice provided.

“Arrange your vaccination as soon as you can, wear a mask and if you need it, get a swab and stay home until you test negative.”

University of Auckland associate professor and microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles said the way the recent Covid-19 case followed the rules “made a huge difference.”

“They’ve been infectious for less time. They were tested while on the move and because of that they have a pretty good idea of ​​when a person became infectious if they were at all.”

“Obviously, the more we get vaccinated, the more protection we have. Using things like the Covid tracer app really helps contact tracers identify where other people have been exposed.”

Wiles said recent cases showed the Auckland border was “not impenetrable”.

“Anyone outside of Auckland thinks the virus won’t find them or that their community needs to start paying attention. No matter where you are in the country, use the app and get vaccinated. If you got your first one. vaccine tomorrow would be about five weeks before you were fully protected. We have to anticipate. “

Residents and visitors to Katikati have been urged to continue checking the Places of Interest page on the Department of Health website.

Several places of interest and possible exhibition windows have been identified in Katikati from Thursday and Friday.

People were encouraged to get tested if they were there or if they were showing symptoms.

Western Bay of Plenty District Mayor Garry Webber said the “low risk” assessment did not change the situation going forward.

“No matter how low the result is, we have a positive result and we just have to go with the flow,” he said.

“We are in the hands of the health authorities here.”

Webber said he was grateful that the person who tested positive was in all respects a “model citizen.”

“They are fully vaccinated and they followed government guidelines to the smallest detail. If every citizen did like this person did, we would be in a better situation.”

Webber said the most important message hasn’t changed.

“Vaccination is the only solution.”

Katikati Antiques and Interiors owner Alice McNeil discovered her store was a place of interest on Sunday morning.

Asked about her first reaction to the news, McNeil said the first word that came to her mind was “God.”

“I’m not opening and I’m going on the road to take a test,” she said.

McNeil, who had owned the store for 16 years, and his only staff member were going to get tested.

Waipuna Hospice chief executive Richard Thurlow said the positive case visited his charity store, not the health department.

“I don’t want our patients or their families to panic,” he said yesterday. “We have implemented our plans to deal with this.”

The Katikati hospice store was closed and its reopening would be reconsidered after five days, Thurlow said.

“That’s really all we can do at the moment. It’s very sad.”

Katikati Community Council member Kate Sutherland said residents will continue to support each other.

“People are pretty vigilant. Our elderly population [is] quite big and we tend to know each other in Katikati. So we all take care of each other. “

She was hopeful that no further positive cases emerged as she imagined a Level 3 lockdown would come into effect.

“I guess the right thing to do is just test and get your jab.”

Chrome Cafe owner Trudy Robinson had urged her staff to get tested after a cafe employee was at a place of interest.

Robinson opened the cafe on Sunday for business but said it was very quiet.

“I think people are scared now that it’s so close to home,” she said.

Meanwhile, medical staff and facilities at the neighboring Lakes District Health Board were prepared if local cases emerged, CEO Nick Saville-Wood said.

“We have been in combat posts for a few months now,” he said. “The hospital will be all prepared.”

Sometimes the DHB had staff that came from the Western Bay of Plenty and they were encouraged to get tested, Saville-Wood said.

He also said DHB will continue to encourage people to get vaccinated.