FIFTH NZ CORONAVIRUS CASE 43 HOSPITAL STAFF STOOD DOWN
Cancelled US South by Southwest festival hits dozens of Kiwi musicians
Afifth person in New Zealand has been diagnosed with coronavirus, and Kiwis have been caught up in an outbreak on a cruise ship, as the global spread of the disease continues.
Dozens of Kiwi musicians have also had planned performances at a famous US music festival foiled, after South by Southwest was cancelled due to coronavirus fears — with New Zealand-based soul singer/songwriter Tami Neilson expressing concern for the virus’ ongoing impact on Kiwis in the industry.
The fifth New Zealand case is a woman in her 40s who is the partner of the third person diagnosed with Covid-19 in this country, a man believed infected by a relative who recently returned to New Zealand from Iran.
Kiwis overseas have also again been affected by the virus, which has infected 100,000 and killed more than 3300 worldwide since the first cases in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade was yesterday following up reports three Kiwis were among the crew on the Grand Princess, where 21 people — 19 of them crew — tested positive for coronavirus.
They hadn’t been contacted by any Kiwis who may be on the ship, off the California coast, a ministry spokeswoman told the Herald.
But eight New Zealand passengers previously on board may have been in contact with a confirmed coronavirus case, the Ministry of Health said. One, a woman in her 70s who flew from San Francisco to Auckland on flight NZ7 on February 25 is in North Shore Hospital with a respiratory illness. Although she tested negative for the virus health officials believe she’s a probable case.
Because of that 43 hospital staff who came into close contact with the woman have been stood down for the remainder of the 14-day isolation period since treating her.
Those close to the woman on NZ7 have been asked to self-isolate.
Two other Grand Princess Kiwis have mild symptoms and had been tested, with one returning a negative result. The five remaining Kiwis are well.
Singer Neilson told Newstalk ZB her heart dropped when she heard South by Southwest was off. Thirteen New Zealand acts comprising 30 to 40 people were due to perform.
Neilson said the festival was a stop on her way to tour in Europe. “I could wake up one morning in France and be on the banned travel list. Can I get home to my babies in New Zealand, am I going to be in isolation for weeks? “The world seems to be on very shifting sands at the moment.” Yesterday, a medical protective wear supplier said panic behaviour had extended to district health boards over equipment such as protective cover jackets, overalls and shoes.
Since the Wuhan factories that made them closed, district health boards had been upping orders, Jackson Allison Medical general manager John Bell said.
I could wake up one morning in France and be on the banned travel list. Tami Neilson (pictured)