Stratford District mayor Neil Volzke says four positive results over nine days isn't a good sign for the district, and he encourages people to get tested if they have any symptoms of a cold or flu.
"This tells us it is near certain that there is an undetected positive case in the Stratford area. We need to identify the source to avoid further spread and more testing is the way to do that. Please get tested if you have any flu like symptons at all. We also need more people to get vaccinated to help keep everyone safe."
Updated testing locations are viewable online: Taranaki COVID-19 Community Testing Centres / Healthpoint.
Taranaki District Health Board Medical Officer of Health, Dr Jonathan Jarman, says the situation is serious as it indicates there is a high possibility that one or more infected people has spread the virus to others in the Stratford community.
"We need a big focus on testing to try and find the source of this positive result.There are obviously people who have not come forward so far for testing and might not be on a sewage system that is being tested in the Stratford area."
Time is now of the essence he says, when it comes to the ability to control any potential spread.
"The longer it takes us to find this person or people, the bigger the outbreak and the harder it will be to control."
Jarman says an all clear result would have supported the theory that the positive wastewater tests came from an infected person or people who have now left the region.
"We know there have been hundreds of visitors to our region over the past few weeks for various festivals and events, so it could still be someone visiting Taranaki, or its someone who lives locally whose had contact with a positive case recently."
Testing efforts will be increased to try to find the source of the positive result, he says, and he encourages people to get tested if needed.
"It's almost been 10 days since the first positive wastewater detection so there could already be community transmission happening in the Stratford area."
Anyone with symptoms should get tested, he says, and not presume they simply have a cold.
"There is not a lot of flu-like illness at this time of the year so a cough or cold would be unusual and should be tested.
"Please don't delay getting a test if you have symptoms, have been travelling out of the region recently, or have had contact with a positive case."
