A new PCR Covid-19 testing station, provided by the Murienua Puna, is being established at Kavera Meeting House in an effort to help with increased demand in the community.

Support worker Maposua Stevenson said the testing station, which opened on Thursday, was established in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak in Rarotonga.

At this stage, the PCR testing clinic will be open from 4pm to 7pm on Monday and Wednesday, but Stevenson has not ruled out increasing the hours if there is demand.

He said the testing station would be working as a support to Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health, and would use equipment similar to that used by Air New Zealand staff in Rarotonga.

“We know that PCR tests are up to 99 per cent accurate for detecting Covid-19. It’s just another way to help out as people become more wary of Covid-19. All we’re providing is the option of easy to access PCR testing, and should demand increase, we will host more testing sessions,” Stevenson said.

“We’re offering this to the community at a reduced price.”

Stevenson said the price of the tests for the public would be about $40 per person, while there would also be the opportunity for free tests as well.

The tests would be administered through saliva samples, as opposed to being nasal samples.

Stevenson said the capacity was up to 10,000 tests.

“We will be able to send the results to Auckland, and have the results come back within 24 hours of the samples arriving at the lab,” he said.

Stevenson said there had been significant stretches on Te Marae Ora’s services in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.

“If for any reason we have to go into lockdown, our testing stations would be able to take some pressure off TMO.

“We just want to ensure everyone stays safe.”

In January, leading New Zealand Covid-19 modeller Professor Michael Plank said it was “certainly possible” for half the population – over 7000 people – to be infected with Omicron within three months of its outbreak here.