'Majority' of 15 new Taranaki cases at one school

There are 15 new Covid-19 cases in the Taranaki township of Eltham, the "majority" of which are at one school.

In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, the Ministry of Health said the new cases were self-isolating.

"As these 15 cases were reported overnight, they will be officially added to our case figures tomorrow," the ministry said.

"Initial interviews suggest they are all linked to the Eltham case reported on Sunday - with links to four of these new cases already confirmed.

"The majority of these new cases are in pupils who usually attend a school in Eltham, which is now closed for the summer break.

"Local public health officials are already working with the school on public health advice for the school community, including isolation and testing for some individuals."

The ministry said investigations were underway to identify, isolate, and test any close contacts and determine any locations of interest.

"People in Taranaki are asked to monitor the ministry’s locations of interest page, which is updated regularly. If you have symptoms – no matter how mild – please, get tested, even if you are vaccinated - and stay at home until you return a negative test result."

It comes after the Taranaki District Health Board advised of "a number of" new Covid-19 community cases in South Taranaki on Wednesday morning.

In a media release on the DHB's website, it said there was "a number of positive Covid-19 infections associated with the Eltham case announced on the weekend".