Staff at Port Chalmers Pool test positive for Covid-19

Staff at Port Chalmers Pool in Dunedin tested positive for Covid-19. As a result, the pool will be closed today.

Five staff tested positive, including a lifeguard who worked a shift at Moana Pool while asymptomatic on Saturday. Staff from Chalmers Pool will be diverted to keep Moana and St Clair Pools open.

Disruptions to operations are likely to occur over the week due to other staff that may be deemed as close contacts.

Image: Dunedin City Council building on George Street, near The Octagon - Sam Hudson, thisquality

Dunedin City Council temporarily closed the pool after the staff tested positive following advice from health authorities overseeing new community cases emerging in Dunedin's community.

“Given the number of pool staff who may be deemed close contacts, and also required to isolate, there will be further disruption to pool operations over the coming days and weeks,” a statement from the Council said.

“We’re continuing to follow advice from health authorities, and we’ve taken all possible steps to prepare for this eventuality”.

The Council is doing their best to work through the inevitable events.

No location of interest has been listed on the Ministry's contact tracing map as of this publication.

Image: Cars line up at Covid-19 testing station on Malcolm Street in Dunedin - Sam Hudson, thisquality

University of Otago sent a text to students on Thursday last week asking them to get tested after a positive case attended a party on Castle Street over the prior weekend.

Those who attended between 7pm Saturday, February 12 and 1am Sunday, 13 February were required to get a test and self-isolate until their results returned.

Attendees who attended between 7pm on Monday, February 14 and 12.30am Tuesday, February 15 were required to self-isolate until Monday, February 21. They were asked to get a test on Saturday, February 19.

The testing station on Malcolm Street was packed with cars waiting in line to get tested.