28 Jan 2022

Tauranga polo event attended by suspected Omicron cases

2:56 pm on 28 January 2022

The Ministry of Health says suspected Omicron cases were among a large number of people who went to a polo event at the Trustpower Baypark Stadium in Tauranga on Saturday.

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Photo: 123RF

Of major concern for Toi Te Ora Public Health is exposure at the polo event held at Trustpower Baypark Stadium between 1pm and 6.15pm on Saturday, 22 January.

The ministry's advice for those were at the event includes:

  • Anyone who was at the bar during this time is a close contact and is being asked to self-isolate and get tested immediately.
  • Anyone who was at the stadium at this time but not the bar is a casual contact and needs to self-monitor for Covid-19 symptoms for 10 days after exposure. If symptoms develop, get a test and stay at home until you get a negative test result.

Today, nine new Covid-19 cases were reported in the Bay of Plenty - including three cases first announced yesterday, all linked to an early childhood centre in Tauranga.

An additional five cases are now linked to this childhood centre and all eight are being treated as Omicron, given their links to confirmed Omicron cases.

The ninth case is in western Bay of Plenty and still under investigation for links to previous cases. The ministry is also investigating a further case in this area.

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