A young woman visiting Kāwhia tests positive for Covid

Kāwhia has again been the target of a positive Covid carrier confirmed today after a young Pukekohe woman visiting her Dad tested positive.  The young woman was in Kāwhia with her boyfriend until Tuesday when the father drove the couple back to Pukekohe and then returned to Kāwhia straight after. The boyfriend and father are still waiting for their test results. 

Waikato Health agency Raukura Hauora o Tainui will set up a testing station today for 3 days at Maketū marae, Kāwhia from 11 am to 3 pm each day supported by the Waikato DHB.  If you develop symptoms such as a sore throat or coughing, Raukura Hauora CEO Terina Moke highly recommends you go get tested. 

Terina says, “This is a big shout out to all Kāwhia residents.  Please come down to the marae and get tested especially if you’re not feeling well.  We’ll be set up ready to start testing at 11 am this morning,  The marae testing station is open to everyone.”   

 Cathrine Holland is casting the net wider on behalf of all 8 marae communities around the Kāwhia harbour. 

She says, “We all know everyone who lives around the Kāwhia harbour is in and out of Kāwhia township on a regular if not daily basis so we encourage you all to pop down to Maketū marae and get tested.  Testing is key to understanding how volatile this delta virus is so come and use the Raukura Hauora testing facility to help protect the harbour community.”   

Cath says this is a hybrid case where the young woman who tested positive was visiting her Dad in Kāwhia with her boyfriend and left Kāwhia on Tuesday to return to Pukekohe where she lives.

“We don’t know the details whether the duo visit was within the responsible rules of essential workers.  At this point, what’s important to understand is the hybrid nature of this positive case.  She was a visitor to Kāwhia from Pukekohe and went home on Tuesday.  The key message here is go to Maketū and get tested if you’re symptomatic.  If in doubt, definitely go get tested,” Cath confirms.

Raukura Hauora was last in Kāwhia in the first week of the month testing and vaccinating locals alongside Waikato DHB and in support of local GP, Dr John Burton after a young man tested positive with Covid 19 and was taken into quarantine in Auckland.