Covid 19 coronavirus: Rangitikei GPs to take over testing from assessment centre

Marton's Stewart Street Surgery and Bulls Medical Centre will now assess and swab people in the Rangitikei District for Covid-19.

Previously people have been tested at the community-based assessment centre (CBAC) in Blackwell St in Marton but the decision has been made to divert the testing and the centre is closed from today .

The Marton community-based assessment centre has been closed. Photo / Bevan Conley

SIGN UP TO OUR COVID-19 NEWSLETTER.
SIGN IN OR REGISTER, THEN SELECT TOP NEWS STORIES

Covid-19 in NZ — 18th December

2110

10

new

Total confirmed and probable cases

51

⬆︎8

Active cases

0

In Hospital

0

In ICU

2034

⬆︎2

Recovered

25

Deaths

427

⬆︎10

Border cases

All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week

Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week

Pay just

$15.75

$2

per week ongoing

Subscribe now

BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just

$449

$49

per year ongoing

Subscribe now

Learn more

30

Whanganui Emergency Operations Centre controller Stuart Hylton said reverting the testing to a general practice makes more sense because testing numbers at the CBAC were relatively low.

"We still want people with Covid-19 symptoms to be assessed and potentially swabbed, in line with the Ministry of Health's direction to increase swabbing numbers in the Whanganui region," Hylton said.

"Accessing swabbing from two locations in the Rangitikei district improves people's access to getting swabbed when they need to be."

NeedToKnow3

People in the Rangitikei who wish to be tested now have the option of going to Bulls Medical Centre. Photo / Bevan Conley

The EOC thanked health workers at the Marton CBAC for their dedication to making the community feel more at ease during an uncertain time.

It is expected that a "pop up" CBAC service will be delivered by CBAC staff and the Te Kotuku Hauora team at their facility this week.

TO READ THE HERALD'S FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE CLICK HERE

The five other CBACs currently operating will continue to assess and test people for Covid-19 in the Whanganui and Waimarino districts.

• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website

Last updated: Fri 18th December at 12:17 am

Go here to see all our Covid-19 data