October 7, 2021 – Waipā will be in level 3 lockdown from 11.59pm today.
There are 29 Covid cases in the community today, including five in Waikato – prompting the current boundary to be extended to the south from 11.59pm tonight.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said ministers considered advice on the Waikato boundary and has been extended to cover Waitomo, including Ōtorohanga.
It will be reviewed on Monday and will be in place until then.
October 6, 2021 – Waipā District Council finally announces details about the case, three hours after they told us the rumour mill was at play and that they had “no official notification from the DHB.”
See below:
1.10pm – Residents are encouraged to get tested and get vaccinated after a confirmed COVID-19 case was announced in Cambridge today.
Waipā District Council was notified by Waikato District Health Board about the case, and advised that contact tracing was underway and a pop-up testing station would be set up.
The case is linked to the South Auckland cluster.
The pop-up testing station is located at Mighty River Domain and will be open from 12noon to 5pm today (Wednesday 6 October) and 8am to 4.30pm Thursday 7 October. Residents who are symptomatic and who have been at a location of interest are encouraged to go and get tested. Locations of interest can be found at www.health.govt.nz.
1.05pm The Government has responded to the spread of Covid from Hamilton by announcing a Super Saturday of vaccinations on October 16 – rather than new Lockdown levels.
1pm: Covid response minister Chris Hipkins and the Ministry of Health’s Dr Caroline McElnay have announced there are 39 new community cases; 30 in Auckland, 9 in Waikato.
All Waikato cases are linked to known cases.
Two cases are outside the Hamilton and Waikato District Council boundaries; in Kawhia and Karāpiro.
Midday: A person who visited Waikato Hospital emergency department on Friday night (1 October) has now tested positive for Covid-19.
11.30am: New testing station set up at Lake Karāpiro today.
10.41am: Ōtorohanga district Mayor Max Baxter confirms Covid in Kawhia.
10.36am: Reports of a case in Kawhia.
10.30am – Reports the case is in Karāpiro.
10.15am – The News approached both Waikato District Health Board and the Ministry of Health for confirmation.
A spokesperson for the ministry said: “The Ministry announces case numbers and other details at the 1pm stand up and statement.”
The DHB said: “Any new cases are announced by the Ministry of Health.”
Mylchreest, through a council spokesperson, has responded to The News’ queries: “Sounds like the rumour mill at play – we have had no official notification from the DHB so it is not us.”
10.05am, Wednesday 6 October – Sources are telling the Cambridge News that a positive case of Covid Delta has been reported in Cambridge.
Waipā mayor Jim Mylchreest reportedly advised councillors earlier today and it is understood he has been contacting retirement villages and rest homes.
A case in Cambridge would impact on events and the Waikato Rugby Union – which moved its men’s and women’s teams to Cambridge on Sunday to escape the Hamilton lockdown.
Traditionally where cases are discovered, the Government announces tighter restrictions from 11.59m on that day.
We will keep readers informed about the report and also what it means for deliveries of the Cambridge News and Te Awamutu News.
