Northlanders are breathing a cautious sigh of relief after no new community Covid-19 cases were found among the more than 1,500 tests carried out yesterday.
Photo: RNZ / Liu Chen
The Ministry of Health on Tuesday revealed that 15 close contacts of the Northland community case returned negative test results, including a household contact.
But the Covid-19 scare has not come without its costs, particularly for those households who have had to take time off work, shut businesses and cover the costs of getting tested.
It is not yet known what that bill will be, but local leaders say lessons need to be learned about how the past few days have unfolded.
"It is encouraging, we're cautiously optimistic, but it has been a real wake-up call," Whangārei mayor Sheryl Mai told Checkpoint.
There were more than 1,500 swabs taken at Covid-19 testing stations on Monday. Māori were tested at a higher rate than any other ethnicity, and so far all tests have been negative.
But the effects of the community case have been widespread, especially on people's budgets.
"They asked me at work if I'd gone to The Warehouse or anywhere around there. I'd gone to The Warehouse that day… They pretty much said, 'go home bro, go get a test and bring one back negative', and that was it. I'm not confident I'm going to get paid," Henare Piripi said.
He was back in the queue this morning after waiting for seven hours on Monday, only to be turned away.
He only gets paid for the hours he works as a heavy machinery operator and did not know how he will cover the time off.
Barry Winterton was also back for a test on Tuesday morning after missing out the day before.
"I was in The Warehouse on the 15th, about half an hour after the infected person was there, and a few days later I came down with cold symptoms. So I came to make sure I'm all clear, for the safety of my customers, being self-employed."
Hopeful of a negative test but taking all the precautions, Winterton was realistic that he may be off work all week as he waits for the results.
"I'd prefer to not earn money for a week than go around spreading a virus that's devastating the rest of the world.
"I've got family in the UK, Scotland… The thing's running rampant. So I'd prefer to keep it nice and safe. I don't mind taking one for the team."
Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai said there has been a noticeable change in business over the past few days
"The roads are quieter, fewer people are actually out shopping, more and more people are at the community testing centres. So there's been a change in attitude.
"I'm also seeing people wearing masks, and the Covid Tracer app has been well and truly used. I heard today that one percent of all Northlanders were tested yesterday so that's pretty impressive."
She said the huge wait times people experienced on Monday mean there is room for improvement.
"Lessons learned, should this happen elsewhere I'm sure the DHBs and their support networks will look at this type of scenario and put a better recovery plan in place."
Additional staff were brought in from Auckland on Tuesday to ease the pressure at testing stations.
They were joined by staff from the Ngātiwai Trust handing out water and fruit to people waiting, and the odd Covid-19 denier out to spread their message to those in line.
The Health Ministry says 187 people received the push notification as a result of having scanned into one of 32 locations of interest.
154 people have been identified as casual contacts, and are being tested and are isolating until they receive their result.
Health staff today reiterated their message that anyone who is not symptomatic or at one of the 32 locations of interest does not need to be tested.
