Covid testing stations busy in wake of cases

CHRISTCHURCH: A steady stream of people were tested for Covid19 in Christchurch yesterday after two community cases were reported in the city.

So far 13% of the 237 Russian and Ukrainian seafarers at the Christchurch Airport Sudima isolation facility have come down with the virus, along with two healthcare workers who worked at the hotel.

The two healthcare workers are considered community cases, as they have not been overseas and caught the virus in New Zealand.

One is a nurse in her 50s.

There are 17 fulltimeequivalent nurses working at the Sudima covering a 24/7 roster, as well as three wellbeing staff who provide additional support.

Genome sequencing showed the virus was passed on from within the managed isolation facility.

While the source of infection was still under investigation, directorgeneral of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said ‘‘what that does mean is that we rule out one or both of these new cases were infected outside of the facility’’.

Fishing company Sealord has made changes to the way it brings international fishing crews into the country, to reduce risks.

Sealord chief executive Doug Paulin said the next contingent of about 200 crew, who were due to arrive on Monday, had been delayed.

He said instead of spending a day together at a hotel in Moscow like the previous group did, they would travel directly to the airport.

‘‘All of those crew had to use accommodation in Moscow before leaving, and that obviously became a place and a time they are at a greater risk — so we have got rid of that day and are making sure they continue to follow all protocols.’’

One of the positive cases visited Chemist Warehouse at South City between 3.52pm and 4.03pm on October 30.

Countdown in Colombo St was also reported to have been visited by a person with the virus on November 1.

Canterbury medical officer of health Ramon Pink said the person who visited the Chemist Warehouse did not have close contact with other people in the store, but an alert was being sent to everyone who checked in with the tracer app as being at the store around that time.

There was a steady stream of cars at a popup testing station at Christchurch’s Princess Margaret Hospital yesterday.

Community testing clinical lead Hannah Gordon said she was not surprised by yesterday’s turn out.

‘‘This is what we tend to see with popups.

‘‘They tend to drum up a bit of attention, and also they can be a bit slower for putting people through because we are using spaces we’re not used to.’’

Nurses Organisation kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said yesterday when health staff became infected, it often showed there was a failure in the system.

‘‘So, unless we have a review of the system to see whether a failure has happened, we’ll continue to have these outbreaks.’’

Where that potential failure lay was unclear, and that was why a review was necessary to identify and rectify any issues, she said.

Dr Bloomfield said a review might be able to assist but a thorough review was conducted usually when cases among workers emerged.

Nurses are reporting to the union they are understaffed and overworked in a pressured working environment, which Ms Nuku said might make mistakes more likely to happen.

Dr Bloomfield said he was not aware of any staffing issues or shortages in managed isolation facilities, but he acknowledged nurses’ concerns should be looked into by district health boards and public health units.

There were three new cases of Covid19 in New Zealand yesterday — an imported case, a historical case and the community case reported on Tuesday, the Ministry of Health said. — RNZ