Tauranga Hospital has been declared a contact tracing Location of Interest by the Ministry of Health in relation to the recent Covid-19 outbreak in the Bay of Plenty.

"As a result of this you may receive a notification from your Covid tracer app that you visited a location of interest during the appropriate time period," says BOPDHB Covid-19 Incident Controller Trevor Richardson.

"As the Location of Interest is defined as ‘Casual Contact' only this means that you can continue to work if you remain well, but you should monitor your health.

"Anyone who has specifically been identified as a close contact will have been notified directly."

Trevor says the Ministry of Health advice is to self-monitor for Covid-19 symptoms for 10 days after being exposed at this location of interest.

"If symptoms develop, get a test and stay at home until you get a negative test result and until 24 hours after symptoms resolve," says Trevor.

Toi Te Ora Medical Officer of Health Dr Bruce Duncan says it's imperative people follow advice given and get tested if they have any symptoms of Covid-19, "even if these are mild, so that we can help contain further spread of the virus in the community".

Most common symptoms of Covid-19 include fever, cough, tiredness, loss of taste or smell. Other symptoms can include difficulty breathing, chest pain, sore throat, headache, aches and pains, diarrhoea, a rash on the skin, red or irritated eyes.

"If you have any further health concerns please contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for Covid-specific healthcare advice."

For testing locations please visit healthpoint.co.nz | COVID-19 Testing in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty

Some additional pop-up testing locations have been set up. These are given below:

Tauranga

• Mount Maunganui Sports Centre - Corner of Maunganui & Hull Roads (10am-4pm Monday 22/11, Tuesday 23/11)
• Tauranga Racecourse (10am–4pm Monday 22/11, Tuesday 23/11)
• Tauranga central-100 First Ave. Drive-through accessed via carpark next to Noel Leeming on Second Ave (8am–4pm, Monday–Friday)

Whakatāne District

• Whakatāne - Med Central Portacom, 52B King St (10am–4pm, Monday–Saturday, 9am-1pm Sunday)