Top of the south now Covid-free

More than two months after the first case was recorded, the top of the south is completely Covidfree.

An update from Nelson Marlborough Health (NMH) yesterday announced the final active case of coronavirus in Marlborough was discharged from isolation on May 21, with the last close contacts discharged a week earlier.

Marlborough itself had not recorded a new case of coronavirus since April 9, although an overseas case linked to a Marlborough vineyard was reported on April 27.

The last new case in the region was recorded in Nelson on April 29, a supermarket worker at New World Stoke.

NMH director of public health Dr Stephen Bridgman said the public had made a ‘‘phenomenal effort’’ in adhering to coronavirus restrictions.

While the virus was no longer circulating locally, he said there was a high risk it could reappear and urged the region to maintain habits of good hand hygiene, social distancing and seeking assessment for any Covid symptoms.