Coronavirus scare at Rotorua courthouse, police station

A person held in custody at the Rotorua police station is being tested for coronavirus.

He and an unknown number of others who were in custody at the same time are being put into isolation.

Rotorua police station custody block. Photo / Stephen Parker

Police staff who may have had contact with the man have been instructed to self-isolate as the police station and the Rotorua courthouse are decontaminated.

In a statement, this afternoon police said a man who was taken into custody yesterday self-reported to police this morning that he had recently returned from Hong Kong and was feeling unwell.

He was one of two people taken into custody following an event involving a threat at the Rotorua District Court yesterday.

The Rotorua Court House is still closed today. Photo / Stephen Parker

The court house was put into lockdown after a caller telephoned an implied gun threat and police were notified at 4.10pm.

As part of standard procedures, this resulted in the closure of the courthouse and it has remained closed today while police conclude the response to this event.

As a precaution, the unwell man is being tested for Covid-19 and has been put into isolation along with others who were in custody at Rotorua Police Station.

Police are now working closely with regional public health officials, the Ministry of Justice and Department of Corrections officials to manage the situation.

Decontamination of all sites, including the Rotorua courthouse, will take place to ensure the safety of the public and staff.

Police were working with the Ministry of Health to commence contact tracing.

Police staff who have had close contact with the individual have been instructed to self-isolate as a precaution.

Bay of Plenty Police Association director Scott Thompson said he was pleased to hear that Rotorua senior police had taken a proactive approach to the situation.

"Erring on the side of caution to ensure our staff after kept safe from any potential risk is a good thing.

"It's only what our staff would expect and also what any employer should do," he said.

NZME has requested further details from police, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health.

A health spokeswoman said, "the ministry doesn't provide details about testing processes underway".

"We do expect public health and other agencies to respond appropriately to incidents and to follow agreed processes and protocols to keep the public, agencies and health professionals safe."

Any results of testing are announced by the Ministry through their regular media updates.