Our teen has had flu symptoms, high temp. Last night after ringing Healthline & speaking to 3 awesome people we let him sleep as I monitored his temp. But this morning

His temp was high again, paracetamol brought it down a wee bit, we rang ahead to our urgent medical centre in Masterton and over 2 hours talked to 3 awesome people who eventually advised us to come up and get him tested for COVID-19. They told us to

Drive to Masterton Netball Courts, head to the carpark but not get out of our car. We drove up through Greytown and for the 1st time we didn't see 1 car parked on our town's main street that's usually packed with weekenders, it was a

Greytown Ghost Town... driving through Carterton was the same although New World was packed. Masterton was quiet apart from walkers and when we arrived at the netball courts a man in Hazmat suit and mask waved us in and

Put his hand up tell us to stop. He Māori ia, he tried to give us the eyebrows and we could tell he had a tā moko. He stood away from our car and said loudly:

Kia ora Whānau. Nau mai!
Do not get out of your waka please.
He asked me to wind down my window a little so he could hand me 2 face masks. He gave me a document to read with instructions. Next he

Removed the barrier and we had to drive in between road cones. We passed 1 big white marquee that had all the sides down, further along we left the carpark and

Drove straight onto the courts themselves. Ahead were two white marquees, side by side, with the ends of each one open.
A woman in Hazmat suit waved us forward and we drove in. She

Asked us to stay in the car but wind my window down a bit. She asked for my boy's details and confirmed them with others: they were expecting him. After checking everything she asked us to drive

Out of the tent, our teen was to get in the back seat, behind me. I followed the cones and did a U-turn and waited in front of the other

Tent, another man in Hazmat suit waved us in this was our doctor. He asked us to open our windows to hear him. He was lovely. After asking teen to wind his window down, he took a swab of his nose cavity. Then

He asked teen to get out and stand next to him but not too close, he checked his ears as the teen has had sore ears with his fever. After this

He said whoever is staying in our bubble cannot leave our place, even for food, until the test comes back. He gave us advice on mitigating temperature and keeping teen comfy. And when we said to take care we could see him smili g behind his mask.

We slowly drove out, staying in between the cones. Teen is feeling much better but still feverish and needing paracetamol. As much as

I wanted to stop and pick up some bits and pieces at the supermarket on the way up, I didn't. We've got enough stuff to get by at home. The 1 worrying thing

Was the korero from the first man we met. He told us there's not enough people getting tested, hardly any Māori and Pasifika. He says people need to not be scared but to know if you or anyone is sick: Ring Healthline. Have a talk to the people. Or ring our

Māori health provider - that's who he worked for - and once they get the OK, come in and get tested. Surreal doesn't adequately describe how much our afternoon didn't feel

Like the Wairarapa we know. But it's still the Wairarapa we love. While we wait for boy's tests- he lived in the uni halls & worked in kitchen of a busy pub till lockdown, definitely remembers washing cruise ship tourist dishes - we are all good in our bubble. I decided

To share our experience so that others can understand as while it's weird, it's all good. Also we weren't allowed to take photographs. Teen is

Feeling better but still not great. Will keep you all posted. Feeling so bloody lucky to live in Aotearoa right now whānau #Stayhomesavelives
#HeNohoKaingaHeOrangaTangata
#KiaKahaAotearoa

Also forgot to add, his highest temp was 39.5 and with paracetamol we got it down to 38.5 and now 37-ish.

Postscript: Teen is doing pūkana at me as I take his temperature. So he's getting better imho.

18yos little brother made a Post COVID-19 Chocolate Cake to cheer people up