January 24, 2021
Testing ramps up as COVID reaches Northland
Northland and Auckland are bracing for a new round of restrictions as authorities scramble to contain a potential community outbreak of COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health revealed yesterday a Northland woman had tested positive for COVID-19 after leaving managed isolation.
The 56-year-old was released from Auckland's Pullman Hotel on January 13 and travelling to her home just south of Whangārei.
She visited around 30 places in southern Northland, including cafes, restaurants and tourist attractions in areas around Mangawhai, Dargaville and Helensville, before being tested on January 22 and going into self-isolation.
Director-General of Health Ashley Blomfield says the woman used the COVID-19 tracer app with the Bluetooth functionality turned on, so push notifications are being sent to people who were near those locations.
There is extra testing capacity in Northland and Auckland as well as extended hours for the existing testing sites.
Testing is also taking place for managed isolation and quarantine workers.
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