Te Kaika’s Covid-19 testing centre opens today at Oamaru’s Awamoa Park, after the Dunedin organisation recognised the need for more testing capability in the North Otago town.
The drive-through centre, a collaboration between Te Kaika, Whitestone Family Practice and Well South, will have two swabbing bays and will open Wednesdays to Sundays until further notice.
Te Kaika chief executive Albie Laurence said ongoing testing played a "huge part" in working to keep everyone safe.
Whitestone Family Practice advanced practice nurse Sandra Isteed said the testing centre filled a role in the North Otago community.
The drive at Awamoa Park provided a central location, and reduced risk to medical practices and of spreading the virus further in the community.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said testing was "increasingly important" as Covid-19 entered the district and Te Kaika’s centre made it easily accessible.
Waitaki’s first Covid-19 case was reported on Thursday. Mr Kircher confirmed it was in Omarama, and the person had been self-isolating.
He had heard of some residents who had been tested and entered the community without self-isolating or waiting for their results.
That behaviour had major impacts on the local community, businesses and services, he said.
"The domino effect of Covid in the community will knock out some services along the way, but the more we do to actually follow the rules, the more secure those services will be for the whole population."
The testing centre is open from 9am to 4pm.
