Temporary lockdown over virus threat
A Palmerston North rest home was forced to lock down for 18 hours after one of its staff members displayed coronavirus symptoms after having contact with a person recently returned to New Zealand.
The Masonic Court staff member had two symptoms of the virus, although the person they’d had contact with had tested negative for Covid-19 and completed a period of isolation.
Rest home chief executive Warick Dunn said following advice from health authorities, the home decided to close its doors to visitors until test results were returned.
It was closed about 6pm on Wednesday and had reopened by midday on Thursday, when the staff member’s test came back negative.
‘‘Public health did the test super quick and it was back in three hours.’’
Dunn said the staff member was off sick and everything had returned to normal at the Clausen St home.
Midcentral District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Robert Weir said the board’s Public Health Service was contacted by rest home management.
‘‘[Midcentral] Public Health was told the person returning to New Zealand had been in isolation for the required time and had tested negative for Covid-19, but as a precautionary measure the facility went into lockdown while they awaited the result of a Covid-19 test on their staff member.
‘‘[Midcentral] organised early testing for the staff member, whose results came back negative.
‘‘The facility acted appropriately by contacting [Midcentral] Public Health and by enacting its pandemic infection control plan to protect its residents and staff.’’
Weird said people experiencing
‘‘The facility acted appropriately by contacting [Midcentral] Public Health and by enacting its pandemic infection control plan.’’
Dr Robertweir Medical officer of health
cold or flu symptoms, or symptoms of respiratory illness, could contact Healthline or their GP about a Covid-19 test.
‘‘We also strongly encourage anyone who is feeling unwell to stay home and to exercise high standards of personal hygiene, including coughing into their arms and regularly washing and sanitising their hands.’’