Tauranga Library has been named a location of interest. Photo / File
Tauranga Library has been named a location of interest. Photo / File
Fears are growing for Tauranga's homeless population after a popular gathering place was identified as a high-risk location of interest.
However, having roughly more than half of the homeless people fully vaccinated has eased some of the concern.
On Thursday, the ground floor of the Tauranga Library at 91 WillowSt was named a high-risk location of interest, having been visited by a person with Covid-19 on November 25 between 11.30am and 2.30pm.
Anyone who was at the location has been asked to self-isolate and test both immediately and on day five after being exposed.
The Tauranga City Council confirmed this on a social media post on Thursday night and said the person used the computers on the ground floor.
"They're just roaming the streets ... a couple of them are wearing masks but [the disposable masks] are dirty."
And the street whānau were vulnerable, she said.
"Some of them had rheumatic fever as a child, they're addicted, they have mental health issues, and they won't comply."
Tidmarsh said she was worried about people getting tested and was unsure if the street whānau would do it without an incentive.
Under the Stars operations manager Laura Wood said she had been contacted by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board regarding a pop-up vaccination and testing stations where the community lunches and dinners happened.
Under the Stars operations manager Laura Wood. Photo / File
She said many of those that are homeless went to the city's libraries as many of them did not have internet access.
"That is a big hangout ... I've seen them there, I do know that they go and of course, they'll associate with people that don't go."
She said the health board was "taking this very seriously to try and stop things quickly".
Wood said the team of volunteers would tell everyone at the community dinner on Saturday that the library was a location of interest, to try gauge numbers.
She said she had asked the 47 people who came to the community lunch on Thursday, and two-thirds of them were vaccinated.
The health board was contacted for comment yesterday.
