A pop-up testing station will be set up at Milford Sound tomorrow (Thursday, August 6) to encourage residents, workers and visitors to be tested for COVID-19.

The surveillance testing, carried out by the Fiordland Medical Practice, with the support of WellSouth primary health network, will be set up at the Milford Sound Fire Station between 8am and 3.30pm. Appointments are not required and anyone is welcome to be tested.  

The pop-up clinic is intended to support Milford residents and people working in the community. Te Anau residents can call Fiordland Medical Practice for instructions on how to be tested locally.

Testing is free and people getting tested are not asked to self-isolate. They should get tested whether or not they have COVID-19 symptoms.

Medical Director of WellSouth, Dr Stephen Graham, said the Milford surveillance testing followed the successful pop-up surveillance testing in Queenstown on Tuesday, when more than 1000 people volunteered to be tested.

“We know we won’t see those numbers in Milford, but hope that people in Fiordland will take this opportunity to be tested; no one will be turned away,” he said.

Southern District Health Board Medical Officer of Health, Dr Susan Jack, said such surveillance testing clinics would help ensure that there was no COVID in the community.

“Around 100 tests have been processed so far, and all of them have returned negative. More are expected to come through later this afternoon and the remainder should be completed tomorrow (Thursday). People who were tested at the Queenstown pop up site yesterday will be contacted directly with their results, but it may take a few days,” she said.

General practices throughout the Southern region continue to offer COVID-19 testing free of charge. Residents and visitors who do not have a GP or are unsure of where to go to get tested can contact 0800 VIRUS19. COVID-19 testing is free of charge.

Dr Jack acknowledged the people of Queenstown for their outstanding response to the pop-up testing yesterday and for doing their bit to help keep the community safe. Dr Jack encouraged the people of Fiordland to do the same and help keep the south COVID-free.