September 23 2021
A high vaccination rate would be a "golden ticket" for New Zealand and make level 4 lockdowns a thing of the past, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. Ardern's comment followed the announcement of 15 new Covid-19 cases in the community.
Mount Wellington has been added to the Auckland suburbs of interest where recent Covid cases have been found and where health teams want as many people as possible to come forward to be tested.
At the same time, Mt Eden, Massey and Papatoetoe were removed from the list.
That meantthe current list included Mount Wellington in the city's inner south-west and Clover Park Māngere, Papatoetoe, Manurewa, Favona and Ōtara in south Auckland
"Our suburbs of interest where there is intensive surveillance testing going on are changing today," director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said today.
"Mount Eden, Massey and Papatoetoe are no longer included but Mount Wellington has been added to that list.
"There are pop-up testing centres today and the netball centre in Ferguson Drive and Mount Smart Stadium."
Clover Park was earlier on Tuesday also added to the list of suburbs of interest and Bloomfield praised the numbers of people getting tested in the suburb.
"There has been a great response to testing in the Clover Park suburb over the last two days, with another 777 swabs taken yesterday, so 10 per cent of the population of Clover Park have been tested just in the last two days," he says.
"Sixty per cent of Clover Park residents have already had one vaccination, and I would urge those who haven't had a vaccination and are eligible to get out and do that today."
Prime Jacinda Ardern first announced on Monday, September 13, that health teams wanted to focus on seven suburbs (at that time) where heavy testing was needed.
It came as more locations of interest have also been released - including a set of stairs at a local park popular with those out for a walk or run.
A person who has tested positive for Covid-19 was at a popular park and sports centre in Manurewa three days ago. That is now the latest anyone with the virus has been out in the community, according to the locations of interest site.
Mountfort Park / Manurewa Sports Centre, on Weymouth Rd has been identified as a location of interest after a person with Covid was there on Monday between 5pm and 8pm.
The Ministry of Health has specifically named the steps at the sports centre as the location of interest - indicating the affected person or persons were likely there exercising.
Anyone who was at the steps or the park and sports centre complex during that time is advised to self-monitor for any Covid symptoms for 14 days from that day and to get a test immediately if symptoms start to show up.
A person who tested positive for Covid-19 was at the Mountfort Park in Manurewa on Monday evening. Image / Google
Several locations show people with the virus were out in the community over the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, and several days last week.
Places visited over the weekend were in Botany Downs, Manurewa, Flat Bush and Clover Park - the latter community being pushed to go and get tested for Covid as soon as possible if you have even the slightest of flu symptoms.
Latest update
The 6pm update showed 137 events involving 88 locations.
A person with the virus was at the Favona FoodMarket for five hours between noon and 5pm on the same day - Wednesday, September 15.
Another exposure event has also been identified at a South Auckland supermarket that has been linked to Covid visits several times during the outbreak.
Pak'nSave Clendon Park, at 16 Robert Ross Place, was visited by a Covid positive person on Sunday, September 12, between 4.15pm and 5.15pm.
The supermarket is featured several times on the Ministry of Health's website; with the latest visits being last week on Tuesday, twice on Thursday and Friday.
Other locations identified by the ministry yesterday include a laundromat, dairies and supermarkets.
The Othello Drive Superette and PJ's Laundromat are next to each other on Othello Drive, Clover Park.
It appears a person who tested positive for Covid was at the laundromat over the weekend - on Saturday and Sunday - and visited the dairy on both days, as well.
The Othello Drive Superette and PJ's Laundromat were visited on the same days over the weekend. Image / Google
Last night's updated list
• PJ's Laundromat Clover Park: 31 Othello Drive, Clover Park. Sunday, September 19, between 8.15am and 9.15am Also: Saturday, September 18, between 8.15am and 9.15am
• Othello Drive Superette: 31 Othello Drive, Clover Park. Saturday, September 18, between 8.45am and 9.15am Also: Sunday, September 19, between 8.45am and 9.15am
• BP Connect: 300 Te Irirangi Drive, Flat Bush. Saturday, September 18, between 8.19am and 8.30am
