Taupō testing and vaccination blitz after Covid-19 cases appear

8:23 pm on 15 November 2021

Tom Kitchin, co-host of The Detail

Taupō has had a Covid-19 testing blitz today, after five cases of the virus were discovered in the lakeside town.

The town of Lake Taupo from the lake, New Zealand

Photo: 123rf

At least 570 people have been tested - over six times more than last Monday, when only 93 were swabbed.

Two hundred people turned out for a dose of Pfizer today.

The vaccination centre is usually closed on Monday, but opened today due to the local cases.

Long lines of cars queued as people waited for testing in Taupō today. Photo: RNZ/ Tom Kitchin

The town is a picturesque place - with views of the lake, the nearby hills and mountains in the distance, and a #LOVETAUPŌ sign in prominent position beside the town centre.

But the grim reality of Covid-19 has hit for Bahadur Singh, the manager of DBar.

It's a karaoke bar that has become a location of interest - along with six other places, including a strip club, some waterfront bars, a petrol station and a darts club.

A positive case was at Dbar and the strip club two nights in a row, leading to nine current exposure events across the town.

Today, Dbar staff were busy cleaning.

"We just sanitise the whole place because we're a location of interest," Singh said.

"So [it's] better, good for our customers too, because once we sanitise the whole place we're ready to trade again."

Taupō is on high alert after Covid-19 cases were discovered in the town.

Photo: RNZ/ Tom Kitchin

Staff have been sent directly to self isolation, which meant extra numbers had to be brought in.

Then the bar would re-open - but with strict precautions.

"In future, plans are we will let only those people who get fully jabbed, which is a good idea for pushing people to get jabbed as well," Singh said.

Early this afternoon, the front doors were shut while a cleaner was hard at work.

"She just came in now, and then she sprayed [the] whole premises - outside, inside, the gaming room and toilets too ... the place is getting ready for the customers to come in and they'll feel safe too," he said.

Sitting outside enjoying a coffee in the sun, Simone had arrived in Taupō on holiday from Palmerston North.

She decided to come up yesterday, even though she knew about the threat of Covid-19 cases discovered in the community.

"We're double vaccinated and we're being careful and doing the whole signing in and wearing a mask and stuff and yeah, sort of trying to live."

She said it was simple to keep safe.

"Try and be as protected - I think the double vax is really important, and keep yourselves clean and safe and try and stay away from - we're not going to the strip club tonight, put it that way."

Sam Haupapa and Sarreal Maranui, both 18, decided today was the day to get their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

"We're just on our way there to the pharmacy now to get vaxxed, because it's [Covid] just come into Taupō now," Haupapa said.

Maranui said she was hesitant, but with the virus on her doorstep she was getting vaccinated.

"I don't know if I should be trusting the vaccine, not too sure, but I'm going to get it anyway and see what happens."

The Covid-19 vaccination hub in Taupō was supposed to be closed today, but was open due to the threat of the virus.

The Taupō Covid-19 vaccination hub was supposed to be closed today, but opened due to the threat of the virus. Photo: RNZ/ Tom Kitchin

Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board spokesperson Te Mahau Kingi said fear had increased among whānau since Delta arrived.

"So our whānau here in Tūwharetoa are very concerned about Covid full stop, but with the arrival of the Delta variant in our community amongst our whānau it has heightened anxiety, it has heightened awareness, it has heightened worry."

He said they had an important task at hand.

"Our role is to promote people's wellbeing and hauora, to encourage or whānau to protect their whakapaka by referring to and using trusted information, the likes of using kōrero with their whānau and using trusted medical advisors."

The Lakes District Health Board said testing stations in the town would remain open tonight until the high demand ran out.