Two new cases bring region’s Covid count to 17

There were two new cases of Covid-19 reported in the Nelson region yesterday.

The two cases, household contacts of existing cases in Nelson City and Tasman District, brings the total number of known Covid19 cases in the region to 17. Sixteen were confirmed and one was probable, Nelson Marlborough Health said.

The two new cases had been epidemiologically linked to this month’s Omicron cluster, the Ministry of Health said.

This follows three cases in Nelson and Tasman announced on Wednesday by the Ministry of Health. One of them was linked to the Motueka Omicron cluster, which was first announced last Friday, when nine members of a family group who had travelled to Auckland for a wedding tested positive.

The other two cases from Wednesday are being treated as suspected Omicron. Health authorities are investigating them to understand any possible links to other cases or Covid-19 exposure events.

So far, the cases are in three households. All members of the households are isolating at home.

Nelson Marlborough Health medical officer of health Dr Stephen Bridgman said that in the current ‘‘stamp it out’’ phase, all cases were confirmed with a positive PCR test, as this was the most accurate method.

Rapid antigen tests would become important in the ‘‘flatten the curve’’ and ‘‘manage it’’ phases as case numbers escalated and the public health response adjusted accordingly, he said.

Nelson Marlborough Health is urging anyone with Covid-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, to get tested, even if they are vaccinated. The testing station at Saxton Field in Stoke is open daily from 9am to 6pm, and the Motueka Recreation Centre testing station is open daily from 9am to 5pm until February 4.

On Wednesday, 403 Covid-19 tests and 2423 vaccinations were done across Nelson and Marlborough.

Bridgman said the changes to mask requirements announced by the Government this week meant people would be better protected and reduce the risk of infection to others.