Coronavirus: Carterton mayor Greg Lang says council worker 'recovering' well

The man works for the Carterton District Council. Photo / File

A Carterton District Council employee is one of two cases of suspected community transmission of coronavirus.

The man went into self-isolation as soon as he began feeling unwell, said Carterton mayor Greg Lang.

The worker "had a role in council that was operated quite remotely", and he had a small team around him that had gone into self-isolation too.

But Lang said the man's co-workers had today returned negative test results.

He said the worker was in "really good, recovering health".

Local pub Evs Bar said the man had been in more than a week ago, and they had given the premises a deep clean.

"It has come to our attention that the confirmed case of Covid-19 in Carterton is also a frequent patron at our bar. In saying that, we have established he was last present about 8 days ago," said a post on the bar's Facebook page on Saturday.

They were currently open with a 50-person limit, and "strict social distancing" would be enforced.

"This notice is not to cause hysteria, but simply it is our duty to the public to make you aware of the current circumstances.

*** IMPORTANT NOTICE *** It has come to our attention that the confirmed case of Covid-19 in Carterton, is also a...

Posted by Evs Bar Carterton on Friday, 20 March 2020

"Please know that we are doing everything we can to ensure this is a safe environment for everyone, so please help us by maintaining good hygiene practices, wash your hands regularly, and limit close contact."

Another post said staff spent "hours and hours" scrubbing every surface of the pub to make sure it was clean.

"Our bar, along with all the others, may not be open for much longer. So visit while you can, enjoy a quiet beer and a catch up with friends, and be assured we are doing everything we can to make it a safe and enjoyable environment."

Lang said businesses around Carterton were currently coping, and that the community was caring and resilient.