Kowhaiwhai Red Header

COVID-19 assessment and swabbing

Home ›... Your health › COVID-19 in Waikato › COVID-19 assessment and swabbing
Your health

COVID-19 assessment and swabbing

If you are experiencing cold or flu like symptoms and are concerned about your risk of COVID-19 please ring Healthline (0800 358 54 53) - they will tell you if a swab is needed and what to do next.

  • If you wish to have a clinical assessment, please call your General Practitioner (GP).
  • Please do not turn up to your GP without an appointment.
  • After hours you can be seen at one of Hamilton’s Urgent Care Clinics.
  • Anglesea Urgent Care is open 24 hours a day.

COVID-19 assessment and swabbing is also available at:

Swabbing Centre

Claudelands Event Centre
Entrance Gate 3, Brooklyn Road, Hamilton
7 days a week 9am – 4pm, drive-thru

Please note:

  • No appointment is needed
  • Be prepared to wait and do not get out of the car (staff will assist you in your car)
  • Please be kind to staff
  • Attending the centre doesn’t automatically mean you will be swabbed, however at present all patients with acute respiratory symptoms will be offered a swab. This will be explained to you by healthcare staff.

There are designated GPs also offering COVID-19 assessment, Healthline or your GP will be able to tell you who they are.

Designated General Practices - please ring them first to make an appointment
Glenview Medical Centre
07 843 4429
1 Urlich Ave, Melville, Hamilton		 Monday - Friday 8am-5pm.
Referral required by phone from other practices please.
Health Te Aroha
07 8848 053
28 Church Street , Te Aroha		 Monday - Friday 9am until 3pm.
Ideal to have referring practices give notice, or patients to call in advance.  
Whangamata Medical Centre
07 865 8032
103 Lincoln Rd, Whangamata
 Monday - Friday 1pm to 5pm.
All patients to call the clinic in advance.
Te Korowai O Hauora Thames
0508 835 676
210 Richmond Street, Thames
 Monday - Friday 8.30am-4pm.
Ring first to make an appointment.

Symptoms:

  • A high temperature (at least 38°C)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sore throat
  • Sneezing and running nose
  • Temporary loss of smell

The Ministry of Health’s latest testing criteria reflects the current COVID-19 situation in New Zealand where our greatest risk of a re-introduction of COVID-19 and it spreading, is via our border.

Under the new testing strategy, anyone presenting to primary or secondary care with clinical symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will be tested, with priority given to those who meet a new higher index of suspicion (HIS) criteria. For more about HIS information visit the Ministry of Health’s website.

For more about COVID-19 assessment and testing visit The Ministry of Health’s website.

Yes

Test results from swabs are generally available within 2-5 days from your GP or if you are tested at Claudelands, you will be communicated via text/phone from the Anglesea Urgent Care clinic.

If positive, the Waikato Public Health Unit will notify you, and work with you to manage your health.

You will be greeted by healthcare staff wearing personal protective equipment.

At the drive-thru/walk-thru centre, you will be asked COVID-19 screening questions to work out if a swab is needed (this can be done over the phone by Healthline). A swab may be done in a dedicated testing space by staff or from inside your car.

If you visit your General Practitioner, they may be operating slightly differently and be using green / yellow / red zones to streamline and manage people with or without respiratory symptoms. This helps protect patients and staff from respiratory infections.

If you meet the Ministry of Health’s Higher Index of suspicion (HIS) – you will be asked to self-isolate.

If you are swabbed for cold or flu like symptoms, you are not required to self-isolate, but you should not go to work if you are sick to prevent spreading your infection to others.