17 Dec 2021

New Plymouth kindergarten identified as Covid-19 exposure event

4:52 pm on 17 December 2021

A kindergarten has been identified as a Covid-19 exposure location involving an as yet unlinked case in New Plymouth.

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Photo: Photo / 123RF

Last night Ministry of Health confirmed three new cases in the region which were included in today's national numbers.

Two cases, an adult and a young child, have been linked to the Eltham cluster and one case is an adult from New Plymouth.

They take Taranaki's total number of positive cases to 23.

Taranaki Covid-19 Response general manager Gillian Campbell said Public Health staff were still working with the New Plymouth case to determine links to any previously reported cases.

"At this stage it appears the case is unlinked, but we still need more information to determine if this is correct.

"We can confirm a New Plymouth kindergarten has been identified as an exposure event and we are working hard to identify potential close contacts and any further exposure events or locations of interest associated with this case."

Locations of interest are public places that have had unknown people visit and exposure events are locations where people can be traced and easily contacted e.g workplaces, schools, private functions.

Locations of interest are published on the Ministry of Health website.

Campbell said the best way to identify possible community transmission was through testing.

"Right now, we're asking anyone in the region with symptoms to get tested. That's our best way of knowing where the virus could be.

"Please get tested to be sure, and don't forget to use the Tracer App, it really helps our contact tracing team work faster."

Covid-19 in Taranaki

  • There are 23 active cases of Covid-19 in Taranaki
  • The cases include one pre-schooler, 18 primary-aged children and four adults
  • In the last seven days 1950 tests have been completed
  • Eighty-seven percent of Taranaki's eligible population is fully vaccinated
  • Ninety-two percent of the eligible population has had one dose

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