A person has tested positive for Covid-19 in the township of Kāwhia, south of Raglan – where recent community cases have been confirmed.
Ōtorohanga district Mayor Max Baxter confirmed the Kāwhia news, telling Stuffhe was alerted to the positive cast on Wednesday.
“I got the call from my chief executive, who got the call from the Defence Force.”
He said he expected more testing stations to be set up – and that the case might prompt a turnaround for the region’s low vaccination rates.
“There has been [low take-up] and that’s really, really disappointing. If there’s a positive, it’s going to open people’s eyes.”
He said that while he understood while some people may have been reluctant to get the jab, “the reality is Delta attacks the vulnerable and not vaccinated”
“Your liberties are not being taken away by vaccination, it’s Delta that takes people’s liberties away.”
The township is located south of Raglan Harbour and is about 40km southwest of Hamilton.
Baxter said it was too soon to say whether alert levels or lockdown measures would change in the region, but businesses in the Kāwhia area are already reacting to the news and voluntarily instigating level 3 protocols.
The Rusty Snapper Cafe told customers on its Facebook page that there would be window service, outdoor dining, and takeaways only.
“And please scan, social distance and wear a mask to keep everyone safe! Kia Kaha Kāwhia!”
Kāwhia Hotel wrote on Facebook: “Hi loyal customers, to help keep the community in Kāwhia safe, from today we are acting at level 3 restrictions until further notice.”
Stuff contacted the Kāwhia Health Centre for comment, but a staff member said the centre did not have any details as yet.
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