Case numbers rise to 14

There are now 14 active cases of Covid-19 in the Nelson Tasman community.

There are ten new cases in Nelson-Tasman today, but one will be officially added to tomorrow's figures as it came in after the cut off time, taking the number of active cases in the region to 14.

In a press conference held Thursday afternoon Nelson Marlborough Health chief medical officer Nick Baker said they expect to know more about the spread within the next three to four days.

"It's important that our community knows to start looking at those locations of interest we haven’t had much practise for a long time here," he said.

The Ministry of Health advises that these cases are made up of two clusters, with 11 in one and three in the other. A possible connection between the two clusters is being investigated.

Two schools in Nelson, Enner Glynn School and Broadgreen Intermediate, have had cases and both schools have temporarily closed while a risk assessment is undertaken and close contacts are identified.

The next steps will then be agreed upon with the Ministry of Education.

Nick says they expect over the next 24 hours they will know how long precautions will be needed for those schools.

"Today we've been looking at how many of the children may have been close contacts or more distant contacts and that will determine how we manage things," he says.

Nick says the priority for the community is to keep up to date with locations of interest.

"It's important that our community knows to start looking at those locations of interest we haven’t had much practice for a long time here," he says.

There are 172 new Covid community cases today as the nation prepares to move into the traffic light system.

Nelson Labour MP Rachel Boyack says the region has seen high testing rates over the past few days and that she's "confident" in DHB's systems in place.

"I want to thank everyone who’s come forward to get tested," she says.

Rachel says Nelson will be staying at Alert Level orange as part of the new traffic light system coming into place today.

"We'll be staying at orange because it’s a new framework, new measures set up to keep us safe," she says.

Kiwi Bakery on Nayland Rd and Warehouse Stationary Bridge St are two of the latest of 28 locations of interest to be added to the Ministry of Health website as of Thursday 4pm.

Nick says they were initially surprised by the high levels of testing.

"The first morning we were stretched, we underestimated people's enthusiasm to be tested. We've increased the resources and looked into traffic management and that’s something we’re constantly adjusting."

Between Monday November 29 and Wednesday December 1, 1520 tests have been undertaken in the region.

A team of medical health professionals has been brought over from Blenheim to assist with testing and vaccination services.

Testing is available at Saxton Fields, Suffolk Rd, Stoke from 9am to 8pm, Trafalgar Centre carpark, 9am to 2pm, Richmond Showgrounds, 359 Lower Queen St 9am to 8pm and Motueka Recreation Centre: Old Wharf Rd, Motueka 9am to 5pm

For more information on Covid-19 symptoms, testing and locations of interest please visit the Ministry of Health website.