The Wanaka A&P Show has responded to the news that members of the World Hereford Conference, of whom four attendees have tested positive for COVID-19, attended the show last weekend (March 13-14).

Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said today (Sunday March 22) the Ministry’s public health team is following up delegates to the Hereford Conference, which was held in Queenstown on March 9-13.

The Wanaka A&P Show on Friday March 13 was part of the conference’s programme.

Wanaka A&P Show event manager Jane Stalker said she had been alerted by the conference organisers that two, or possibly three, conference delegates who tested positive for COVID-19 attended the show on Friday March 13.

“We have today been in touch with the Southern District Health Board [SDHB] and they have advised that for the people who attended the show on this day, they might be regarded as a ‘casual contact’ – where a person is in the same geographic location as the affected person but they may or may not have had ‘close contact’ with the affected person,” Jane said.

“They have advised that overall, the level of risk of close contact is low. For all ‘casual contact’ situations, the Ministry of Health and SDHB are reminding people to follow the guidance of washing hands, maintaining social distancing and if people develop symptoms, they should self-isolate and call the Healthline on 0800 611 116.”

At this point the Wanaka A&P Show has not been contacted by the Ministry of Health for contact tracing, Jane said, and any further questions should be directed to the Ministry of Health or the SDHB.

“Our thoughts are with the affected people at this time. We understand the people involved are recovering well,” she said.

New Zealand now has 66 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including a man in his 20s from Wanaka.

PHOTO: Wanaka App