The Ministry of Health has confirmed COVID-19 has been detected in New Plymouth wastewater.
ESR reported there has been a positive test result detected from a sample of wastewater, which was confirmed by a second test which also returned a positive result on Friday evening.
"Based on previous incidences, it is most likely that the two positive wastewater results are due to recently recovered cases continuing to shed the virus," a spokesperson said.
The Ministry of Health is now investigating whether any recovered COVID-19 cases, who live in the New Plymouth area, have recently left a managed isolation facility. They are also considering the possibility a recently recovered case from elsewhere in the country had travelled to the city.
"ESR consider a single recovered person shedding the virus may be detected in wastewater."
The mariners on board the ships Playa Zahara and Viking Bay, which recently docked at Port Taranaki, do not appear to be connected to the wastewater detections.
"Additional testing is being carried out for a small number of port workers and nurses, who have been in possible contact with the mariners. The nurses have previously been tested for COVID-19 and returned negative test results," the Ministry said.
"As an additional precautionary measure, and to help rule out possible undetected COVID-19 infection, the Ministry is encouraging anyone with symptoms, especially if they are in the New Plymouth area, to get tested. Additional testing capacity is being stood up in New Plymouth to support potential demand. This advice also applies to recent visitors to the New Plymouth area."
The Ministry of Health said it is "closely monitoring" the situation and additional public health advice will be provided if required.
