A temporary COVID-19 testing site will operate in Dannevirke today after the virus was detected in the Tararua town's wastewater.
There are five active COVID-19 cases in the MidCentral District Health Board area, which includes the Tararua District, but no confirmed or recently recovered cases in Dannevirke.
The testing site will operate from the Dannevirke Community Hospital from 10am to 2pm today.
Tararua mayor Tracey Collis is encouraging anyone in the district with cold or flu symptoms to get tested.
She said people in the district are nervous after traces of the virus were found on Wednesday and Thursday.
"Everybody will be as cautious as they can, this will just enhance the mask wearing, the social distancing.
"Testing is really important - anybody with symptoms - it's important that we find the person with the [virus], and we can start that contact tracing."
RNZ
