Whanganui Chronicle

Latest update Covid-free

Bloomfield warns of the continuing need for vigilance in NZ

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For the first time in nine days New Zealand had no new Covid-19 cases yesterday. And director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said it had been 73 days in this country since the last case of community transmissi­on.

He said 1043 Covid tests were conducted on Sunday and to date a total of 429,643 tests had been completed in New Zealand.

Bloomfield, who is back at work after a holiday last week, said he had a meeting planned in the next fortnight with his counterpar­t in Australia to share details about the response to the pandemic.

It was important to test the right people, including new arrivals coming across the border and those working with them.

Bloomfield said he had noticed while on holiday that it felt like “life is back to normal in New Zealand”.

But he noted the World Health Organisati­on had revealed overnight the single biggest day of new Covid cases worldwide — more than 230,000 in 24 hours.

“There is a significan­t pandemic offshore and we still have to be vigilant,” he warned.

Bloomfield was away last week when it was revealed that Michelle Boag received sensitive Covid patients’ details in her role as Auckland Regional Helicopter Trust acting chief executive. She gave the details to National MP Hamish Walker.

Bloomfield said a process for that trust, and other trusts, was establishe­d months ago in case they had to visit a premises where there was a Covid-infected patient and they could take measures to protect themselves.

The helicopter trust was one of many emergency services that was given the informatio­n.

Whether it should continue receiving the informatio­n was something that was now the subject of the inquiry by Michael Heron, QC, Bloomfield said.

Health Minister Chris Hipkins and Bloomfield yesterday visited the Grand Mercure hotel isolation facility in Wellington and Hipkins said he was “very impressed” with the staff.

He wanted to reinforce the Government’s commitment to “do the right thing” by those who were in managed isolation.

Those entering managed isolation would now receive a 19-page booklet of what they could expect, including mental health support, physical activity and primary health care.

“It’s important to show compassion to those returning,” he said.

Hipkins said 672 tests were done in managed isolation on Sunday, with some 400 tests in the community.

The Health Minister said this was not enough and reiterated his desire to see the numbers lift to 4000 a day.

He reiterated the need for everyone to use a digital diary, which he described as a key tool for the country if there was an outbreak.

 ?? Photo / Mark Mitchell ?? Health Minister Chris Hipkins (left) and director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield after their Covid-19 media update at Parliament yesterday.
Photo / Mark Mitchell Health Minister Chris Hipkins (left) and director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield after their Covid-19 media update at Parliament yesterday.

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