Testing has ramped up in New Zealand following Thursday's shock announcement that an Auckland woman with no known links to the border or managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities had contracted COVID-19.
Public health officials learned late on Thursday morning that the woman, a student at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) who works part-time as a shop assistant at a CBD clothing store, went to work while infectious.
An alert level decision is expected to be made on Friday.
Measures to keep the spread of coronavirus to a minimum include requesting everyone in the woman's apartment building to self-isolate for three days, and everyone who works in downtown Auckland to work from home where possible.
Who are those at risk of COVID-19 infection?
There were two new community cases announced on Thursday - one in Auckland and one in Wellington.
While the risk from the Wellington case is of less concern to officials due to their connection to an MIQ facility, they did dine at Little Penang on the Terrace while potentially infectious.
The Ministry of Health is asking all those who ate there at the same time - between 1pm and 4pm last Friday - to have a test if they feel symptomatic.
Meanwhile the Auckland case's three close contacts have been told to isolate and get a test. Two of them have been moved to the Auckland quarantine facility, while the other lives in Vincent Residences, the woman's apartment building.
All residents of Vincent Residences have been asked to self-isolate for three days and will be offered a test by a pop-up clinic being set up there on Friday.
There are a number of 'locations of interest' the Ministry of Health has identified. Health officials are urging people who were at these locations at these times to seek a test and isolate.
- Saturday, November 7: 3:50pm - 6pm, Smith and Caughey's Queen St; 6pm - 8:30pm, Red Pig Restaurant
- Sunday, November 8: 11:30am - 11:45am, takeaways from Starbucks Queen St and Sunnytown Restaurant Lorne St; 6:40pm - 6:50pm, takeaways from The Gateau House, 332 Queen St
- Monday, November 9: 11:31am - 11:40am, takeaways from Starbucks Queen St and Sunnytown Restaurant Lorne St
The ministry also now understands the woman went to AUT's student hub from 2:30-2:40pm on Tuesday, November 10. Anyone there at the same time is considered a casual contact and has been asked to watch for symptoms.
In addition, anyone in Auckland or throughout the country who has cold or flu symptoms has been asked to get a test and stay at home until they've returned a negative result.
Where you can get a COVID-19 test
Testing clinics have been set up throughout Auckland and Wellington, the country's only two regions with known community COVID-19 cases.
Here's where and when you can get a test over the coming days.
Anyone in other parts of New Zealand who wish to get a test can find their closest community testing centre by clicking here.
Auckland
- CITY CENTRE COMMUNITY TESTING CENTRE: Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place, Auckland CBD. Thurs 12 Nov 2pm-6pm and Fri 13 Nov 8:30am-4pm
- VICTORIA PARK COMMUNITY TESTING CENTRE: Victoria Park Skate Park, 20 Beaumont Street, Auckland CBD. Thurs 12 Nov 2:30pm-6pm
- WYNYARD QUARTER CARPARK COMMUNITY TESTING CENTRE: Madden Street, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland Central. Fri 13 Nov 9:30am-4:30pm
- THE DOCTORS QUAYMED BRITOMART COMMUNITY TESTING CENTRE: Quay Park Health Centre, 68 Beach Rd, Auckland Central. Entrance via Mahuhu Crescent. Fri 13 Nov 8:30am-5pm and Sat 14 Nov 8:30am-4.30pm
- NORTHCOTE COMMUNITY TESTING CENTRE: 16-18 College Road, Northcote. Corner of College Road and Kilham Avenue. Entrance via College Rd. Mon to Fri 8:30am - 4:30pm, Sat and Sun 8:30am-2:30pm
- BALMORAL COMMUNITY TESTING CENTRE: 182 Balmoral Road, Mount Eden, Auckland. Wed to Fri 8:30am-4:30pm, Sat and Sun 8:30am - 2:30pm
- WHĀNAU HOUSE, WAIPAREIRA TRUST HENDERSON: Corner of Edsel St & Catherine St, Henderson. Mon to Fri 8am-4pm, Sat & Sun 8am-2pm
- HEALTH NEW LYNN: Level 1 Carpark, Totara Health Services, McCrae Way, New Lynn. Mon to Fri 8:30am-4:30pm
- WHĀNAU ORA COMMUNITY CLINIC: 25 Druces Road, Wiri. Mon to Fri, 8:30am-4:30pm, Sat 8:30am-2:30pm
- ŌTARA COMMUNITY TESTING CENTRE: Ōtara Town Centre, 14 Fair Mall, Ōtara. Mon to Fri, 8:30am-4pm, Sun 10am-2pm
Wellington
- TEAM MEDICAL (KĀPITI): 1 Coastlands Parade, Paraparaumu. Mon-Sat, as required min two hours/day
- CANNONS CREEK: 178 Bedford Street, Cannons Creek, Porirua. Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sun 10am-2pm
- KARORI MEDICAL CENTRE: 11 Parkvale Road, Karori, Wellington. Mon-Fri 10:30am-12pm
- KENEPURU HOSPITAL: Ambulance Bay Site. Mon-Fri 10am-2pm
- WELLINGTON CENTRAL: 196-200 Taranaki St. Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm
- LOWER HUTT CENTRAL: 729 High St, Lower Hutt. Mon-Fri 10am-4pm
- WAINUIOMATA: Adjacent to Whai Oranga Health Centre, 7 The Strand, Wainuiomata. Mon and Wed-Fri 1:30pm-3:30pm
- UPPER HUTT: Heretaunga Christian Centre, 51 Lane Street, Upper Hutt. Mon and Wed-Fri 9:30am-12pm
