Community testing for COVID-19 continued in Queenstown over the weekend after it was discovered a man who tested positive for the virus in South Korea had visited the district in early July. 

“Testing at Queenstown Medical Centre has been ongoing over the weekend, with people responding to the call to be tested if they have developed symptoms since 1 July,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

“However, numbers tested have been lower than expected.”

The Southern DHB will be undertaking further community testing at a pop-up testing centre on Tuesday August 4 from 9am in the Pak n Save carpark in Queenstown.

Southern DHB medical officer of health Dr Susan Jack said this incident serves as an important reminder for people to continue to be vigilant and to keep track of their movements.

PREVIOUS:

Contact tracing continues in Queenstown

Contact tracing underway in Queenstown, Fiordland

“We need to do everything possible to keep the virus out, and to keep our communities safe and free of COVID. Our message to the public is: Please - take a few minutes and do your part: get tested.”

The 22-year-old man first tested positive for COVID-19 when he arrived in South Korea on July 22, a day after he left New Zealand from Christchurch Airport and after transiting through Singapore.

The Ministry of Health said on Saturday that all domestic contacts of the case tested to date have returned negative results.

“There continues to be no evidence of any transmission in New Zealand involving the traveller who tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival in South Korea.”

“While these results reinforce that the public health risk from this case continues to be low, further contact tracing is taking place around their travel within New Zealand…”

The man was in South Auckland from June 20 to July 20, Queenstown from July 1-4 and in and around Christchurch Airport on July 20 and 21.

General practices throughout the region continue to offer COVID-19 testing free of charge. Residents and visitors can contact 800VIRUS19 if they do not have a GP or if they are unsure of where to go to get tested.

PHOTO: Hannah Hurwitz