Nine cases in Waikato

As the number of Covid-19 cases in Waikato edges closer to double figures, one carrier has revealed his identity to ease people’s fears.

There are now 66 confirmed cases of coronavirus in New Zealand as countries around the world shut down to contain the pandemic’s spread.

The Waikato region now has nine cases, including one in Hamilton, as well as cases nearby in Tauranga and Rotorua. One of them is Te Mahau Kingi.

The Tu¯ wharetoa Ma¯ ori Trust Board confirmed he was Taupo¯ ’s only coronavirus case.

Speaking to Stuff yesterday, chief executive Shane Heremaia said there was a lot of anxiety in the community when the case was announced and Kingi wanted to eliminate that. ‘‘Straight after [it was announced] we received messages of concern, so it did create a bit of anxiety,’’ Heremaia said.

‘‘He wanted to show people through no fault of your own, really, people can be affected, and it is a time for people to be kind and supported.’’

Kingi arrived back in New Zealand from an overseas trip a few days before the Government announced any overseas travellers would have to selfisolate for 14 days.

However, once the announcement was made, despite showing no signs of illness, he decided to self-isolate.

Heremaia encouraged people to be cautious and said ‘‘thank goodness’’ Kingi was, as he had no severe symptoms.

‘‘A lot of people are seeing the images on TV and think it is more significant but it is not the case.

‘‘For many people they are recovering well and do not have very serious symptoms.’’

Being diagnosed was a shock for Kingi, Heremaia said.

‘‘All things considered, he is doing pretty well.’’ After arriving back in the country Kingi had been working from home, ironically on Nga¯ti Tu¯wharetoa’s

Covid-19 response, Heremaia said. ‘‘It has been interesting for him.’’

Further north, a Hamilton case announced yesterday was a woman in her 60s with a travel history to Ireland, Dubai and Australia.

Another Waikato case was a man in his 60s who flew from Honolulu to Auckland on March

14. Another case, a woman in her

40s, had contact with a confirmed case.

Tauranga’s first confirmed case, also announced yesterday, was a man in his 30s with a travel history to the United States.

Nationally, there is now a focus on the two cases of possible community transmission – in the Wairarapa, announced on Saturday, and at a cattle fair in Queenstown where at least four

‘‘[Te Mahau Kingi] wanted to show people through no fault of your own, really, people can be affected, and it is a time for people to be kind and supported.’’

Shane Heremaia

Tu¯wharetoa Ma¯ori Trust Board chief executive

people were infected with the disease. Director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said the ministry still had not been able to definitively rule out community transmission in the case of two patients who have tested positive but have no obvious connection to overseas travel.

This meant there could be community transmission, something which has not yet been detected in New Zealand, and which would be a turning point in the country’s battle with Covid-19.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern unveiled a four-stage plan to tackle the virus on Saturday and urged people to take Covid-19 seriously.

The country remained at alert level two yesterday, meaning the disease was contained but the risks were growing as cases increased. At this stage people would need to reduce contact with others. There would be increased border measures and events would be cancelled.

People would be required to work differently and from home as much as possible.

All non-essential travel would need to be cancelled.

As the virus spreads, the alert level could be lifted throughout the country as well as within specific regions.

Alert level three was where the disease was increasingly difficult to contain and public venues and non-essential businesses would need to close and level four would see everyone isolated from each other. Essential services would continue but everyone would be asked to stay at home.

At every alert level, supermarkets and essential services, such as access to pharmaceuticals would continue.

Ardern urged New Zealanders to shop normally.