Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty city leaders are strongly encouraging their community to get vaccinated, following the ESR notifying the Ministry of Health of positive wastewater detections of the Covid-19 virus on Saturday.

The COVID-19 virus has been detected in waste water samples collected November 10 - 11 from Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.

'Our team will be collecting additional samples for testing in the coming days,” says Tauranga City Council Commission Chair Anne Tolley.

'I need to urge everyone in our community who has not done so to please get your free vaccination."

Tauranga City Council Commission Chair Anne Tolley. Photo: SunLive.

'The clock is ticking, we have confirmed cases in Hamilton, as well as Taupo. The time to act is now,” says Tolley.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board EOC Incident Controller Brent Gilbert de Rios is encouraging people who are unwell and have symptoms of COVID-19, even mild symptoms, get tested.

After testing people will need to remain isolated until they return a negative test result.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include a new or worsening cough, sneezing and runny nose, fever, temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste, sore throat, and shortness of breath.

Testing sites open Sunday:

Katikati Medical Centre Open today 8.30am to 12pm
Bay of Plenty COVID-19 Community Testing Centres Open today 10am to 3pm
Accident and HealthCare Open today 8am to 9pm
Te Manu Toroa 11 Tebbs Lane (off Courtney Rd) Gate Pa. Open until 3pm.

'We also encourage people to get vaccinated if they are not already vaccinated as it is the best way to keep our communities safe from the virus,” says Brent.

To find the locations of where vaccination centres are open please check the Healthpoint website for testing site details.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council Mayor Garry Webber is encouraging everyone to put politics aside and to get vaccinated.

'It is unfortunate that Covid has found its way into our rohe, but not surprising given its emergence around us at Taupo and Stratford,” says Webber.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council Mayor Garry Webber. Photo: SunLive.

'Now is not the time for politics or procrastination. Now is the time for everyone to get vaccinated as vaccination is the only way we, as whanau, community and as a nation, can get ahead of this global pandemic," says Webber.

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges is also strongly encouraging people to get tested and vaccinated while carrying on with everyday life.

'While this was inevitable at some point, it will still be concerning to locals,” says Bridges. 'Those with symptoms should get tested and those who aren't yet should get vaccinated. Otherwise I believe we need to continue going about our everyday business and getting on with life.”

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges. Photo: SunLive.

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board has advised it will have a number of testing and vaccination sites available on Sunday. Please check the Healthpoint website for testing site details.

Vaccination locations for Sunday:

Get tested, get vaccinated and check locations of interest. This is the advice from Toi Te Ora Public health following the positive Covid-19 test result in a person from Taupō.

The Medical Officer of Health at Toi Te Ora, Dr Lynne Lane, says it is imperative that anyone in the Taupō district or who has visited Taupō recently, get tested if they have Covid-19 symptoms.

Symptoms of Covid-19 include a new or worsening cough, sneezing and runny nose, fever, temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste, sore throat, and shortness of breath.

Locations of interest are updated regularly and can be found here.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board CEO Pete Chandler. Photo: Supplied.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board CEO Pete Chandler has been actively encouraging the Bay community to get vaccinated, and highlights some of the side issues that the DHB is managing.

"Our hospital activity this week has been over 100 per cent of beds occupied which is abnormal activity and very sick people," says Chandler.

"We also have an increasing trend of car and road accidents which take up huge amounts of hospital capacity from ED through theatres and wards.

Chandler says 'the last thing we need when we get Covid is avoidable heavy resource consuming demands like car and other accidents."

Dr Lane says the cases in Taupō are a timely reminder for people to get their Covid-19 vaccination.

'Vaccination is the best way to keep yourself, your loved ones and the community safe from the virus. If you haven't already had your vaccination, now is the time to get it.”

Other important health measures against Covid-19 include wearing face coverings, using the Covid-19 tracer app, practicing good hand hygiene and social distancing, says Dr Lane.

'I strongly encourage everyone to be vaccinated and encourage those who may not have decided to do so today and be part of a strong community response to fight Covid-19.”

Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty residents are also encouraged to stay vigilant.

'It is also crucial for everyone in our community to keep wearing face coverings, socially distance, maintain good hygiene and use the NZ Covid-tracer app. Let's do everything we can to keep our whānau and friends safe,” says Tolley.