Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Ministry Of Health Adds Taumarunui To Wastewater Testing
Medical Officer of Health Waikato, Dr Richard Vipond has requested Council to start testing wastewater from the Hikumutu Wastewater Treatment Plant in Taumarunui for COVID-19.
Council Environmental Manager Stuart Watson said although there is currently no evidence of COVID-19 in Taumarunui the decision by the Ministry of Health to start wastewater testing is a precautionary move to confirm if COVID-19 has spread into our area.
"As testing resources are limited the Ministry of Health who determines what populations to test needs to take a strategic approach on where to test,” he said.
In this case the decision to start testing Taumarunui's wastewater is in response to COVID-19 being in neighbouring regions.
Council has just received the test kits and the first wastewater samples will be taken on Monday next week (25 Oct).
The testing will now be done weekly as a normal course of business.
If test results show that COVID-19 is in the Taumarunui population the health authorities have a range of response measures.
These include pop-up testing and vaccination clinics through to increasing the Alert Level.
Ohakune and Raetihi will not be tested for now but that could easily change if their situation does.”
Gordon Campbell: On How US Courts Are Helping Donald Trump Steal The Mid-Terms
Forest And Bird: Government Biodiversity Credit Scheme Welcomed As Opportunity For Restoration
Office of the Ombudsman: Ombudsman Publishes Findings On Ministry Of Education Sensitive Claims Scheme
Nelson City Council: Mayor Welcomes Auditor-General Decision Not To Prosecute Councillor
Johnnie Freeland: Ko Tātou Tātou - Climate Action In Aotearoa Begins With Relationship
Zero Waste Network Aotearoa: Container Return Scheme Bill Would Double Recycling Rates And Put Money Back In Households
Wellington City Council: Statement From The Wellington Mayoral Forum On Options For Regional Governance Reform
