Covid symptoms? Get tested at BOP locations

There are Covid-19 community testing stations open at Mount Maunganui, Baypark and Whakatane on Saturday and Sunday February 26 and 27. Photo: SunLive.

Anyone who is experiencing Covid-19 symptoms is advised to get tested at one of the locations in the Bay of Plenty this weekend.

There are Covid-19 community testing stations open at Mount Maunganui, Baypark, and Whakatane.

The Baypark community based Covid-19 testing station at 81 Truman Lane, Mount Maunganui is open from 10am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday February 26 and 27.

The Mount Maunganui Sports Centre POP-UP testing, on the corner of Maunganui Road and Hull Road is open today from 9am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The Old Wally Sutherland building Covid-19 testing centre at 266 The Strand, Whakatane is open from 10am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.

If you are experiencing the following Covid-19 symptoms - a new or worsening cough, fever (at least 38˚C), shortness of breath, a sore throat, sneezing and runny nose, or temporary loss of smell, please get tested.

The Baypark testing centre is at the back of Baypark Arena by the Blokarts (purple cross). Image: Healthpoint.

Urgent Care Clinic

This urgent care clinic provides Covid-19 testing for patients who are unwell. All patients requiring a surveillance test should present to the DHB Testing Centre on 1st Avenue between the hours of 8am and 4pm.

RATs Community Collection Site

RATs are now being used extensively as part of the COVID-19 Testing Strategy. RATs will be provided to those who are symptomatic, or are asymptomatic and a close or household contact. RATS will not be provided to asymptomatic people where there is not a good reason for a test to be undertaken.

RATs for healthcare, border and critical workers are currently only available to workers who do not have COVID-19 symptoms, are vaccinated and are performing a critical function at a business, who have self-identified themselves to Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as critical, and need to test to continue working as part of the Close Contact Exemption Scheme.

If you are a critical worker, including healthcare and borders workers, before going to a collection site, you must place an order via the Rapid Antigen Test Order form on the Ministry of Health website.

RATS delivery for healthcare and critical workers

Bay of Plenty are providing Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) for healthcare and critical workers by delivery or pick-up arrangement.

To arrange this, please choose either Western Bay, Eastern Bay or Murupara RAT Delivery option via the Ministry of Health order form.

Bay of Plenty DHB will contact you to arrange delivery. For support, please contact 0800 222 478.

Pick up is by arrangement or delivery on Saturday and Sunday.

RATS collection sites open on Saturday February 26:

Welcome Bay Hall, 244 Welcome Bay Road from 9am to 12pm.

Toi Ohomai Windermere Campus, 70 Windermere Drive from 1pm to 3pm.

Bethlehem Hall, 239 State Highway 2 from

Whakamārama Hall, 469 Whakamārama Road from 9am to 12pm.

1 comment

A step in the right direction.

Posted on 26-02-2022 12:55 | By morepork

But it would be good if RAT kits were freely available to ANYONE who thinks they need a test (even if it is only for their own peace of mind), without the paperwork. The reason it is curtailed is because we still don't have enough test kits. If EVERYBODY was able to self test, we could quickly pinpoint areas of exposure and take necessary action to eliminate the virus there.


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