Covid 19 coronavirus: Tauranga assessment centre set up at Baypark Stadium

The assessment centre at Baypark. Photo / Supplied

Tauranga's Covid-19 coronavirus assessment centre's first day at Trustpower Baypark Stadium has been a success, according to organisers.

The centre, which was originally located at Tauranga Racecourse, opened its doors to the public at Baypark at 9am today. The move to Baypark, which has a greater capacity than the previous site, was made in response to the Ministry of Health's announcement on Wednesday that the case definition for those being assessed for Covid-19 had been broadened.

"It's a case of front-footing any potential rise in the numbers seeking assessment by moving to a location which has got much greater capacity for scaling up should that be necessary," Bay of Plenty community-based health services lead Joe Bourne said in a statement.

The Baypark site could handle up to 500 assessments per day if required, he said, and the centre's first day there had gone "really well".

"We have an excellent service set up which is there to respond to anyone that has symptoms which might be linked to Covid-19 which include fever, coughing and difficulty breathing," he said.

They were encouraging people to seek advice over the phone first, but to drive to Baypark for assessment if they had symptoms related to Covid-19.

The centre's opening hours at Baypark Stadium will remain the same, from 9am to 6pm daily.

Over the nine days between March 24 and April 1, 1176 people were assessed at an average of 130 per day, Bourne said.