News and Notices

Pop-up asymptomatic COVID-19 testing in Blenheim and Picton next week


Pop-up asymptomatic COVID-19 testing stations will be available in Picton and Blenheim next week.

  • Picton i-Site 12.30pm to 2.30pm – Tuesday 3 November
  • Blenheim i-Site 9.00am to 12.30pm - Thursday 5 November

The locations have been chosen for their proximity to workers in the hospitality, tourism, transport retail and service sectors. Members of the public and visitors to the region are also welcome to get tested.

“The focus on testing workers in these industries is part of our testing strategy and aligns to national direction,” says Dr Nick Baker, Chief Medical Officer for Nelson Marlborough Health.

“We need to keep test numbers up so that we can continue to be confident that we don’t have COVID-19 in our community. It makes sense to focus on these workforces – people who come into regular contact with other people, many of whom have travelled from other parts of New Zealand.

“Knowing that we have good rates of testing will also reassure people who are planning to visit our beautiful region this summer,” Dr Baker says.

On 23 October a pop-up asymptomatic testing station was available in central Nelson, at which more than 80 people were tested. Between 5 and 9 October, 72 tourism workers were tested in Kaiteriteri, Tasman.

Can’t make the pop-up? How to find out about testing

  1. Phone your regular GP clinic or iwi healthcare provider
  2. Phone an after-hours medical centre, listed on the NMH website at: www.nmdhb.govt.nz/covid-19
  3. Phone Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice

Test data

More than 10,478 tests (both symptomatic and asymptomatic) have been conducted among more than 9,554 people across the Nelson Marlborough region since 13 August when new cases of COVID-19 emerged in Auckland.