Hunt on for infection source
Bloomfield rejects suggestion latest community cases are another failure at the border
The hunt is on to find outhow two workers at a Christchurch MIQ facility got Covid-19. It was announced last night that a second person working at a managed isolation facility in Christchurch has tested positive for Covid19.
The Ministry of Health says the person is a close workplace contact of the case reported on Monday — a health worker at the Sudima Christchurch Airport hotel.
“As the person works at the facility and is not a returnee they are treated as a community case,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Both this case, and the one reported on Monday, came into contact with the international mariners in the course of their duties, including some of the 31 marinerswhohave tested positive to Covid-19 and who remain in quarantine.”
The second person to test positive was in isolation at home in Christchurch but would be moved to a managed isolation facility. Meanwhile, the person to test positive on Monday remained in self-isolation at their home.
The women in her 50s visited the Countdown supermarket on Colombo St for about an hour while symptomatic and video footage is being reviewed. That’ll lead to active testing of anyone who interacted with the case in the store.
Health boss Ashley Bloomfield says they’re working hard to find the source of the infection and it’s possible more cases will crop up.
Bloomfield’s also reminding people to use the Covid Tracer app as fewer than 20 people logged into the Countdown while the case was there.
He rejected any suggestion the latest community case is another border failure.
Bloomfield said the same protocols and procedures apply in every facility across the country.
Other Sudima staff working on the same shift are being contacted and will be tested if necessary.
One of her household contacts, a Cashmere High School student, is in isolation and has tested negative.
Parents at Cashmere have been told that the school community don’t need to be tested or to selfisolate unless they have symptoms.
Bloomfield said the risk of spread at the Cashmere school was low. “There’s no sense that any horse has bolted here.”
Incoming Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the Sudima health worker was potentially infectious for a “small window of time”, and he thanked the worker for getting tested when she became symptomatic.
He implored Kiwis to use the NZ Covid Tracer app as it gave officials a “real head start” in cases like this.
“We will see cases emerge from time to time.
“The key is to identify them early and to contain them.”
He said people had become too complacent and urged everyone to scanqrcodes, stay homeif sick, and to wear masks on public transport — even though mask-wearing is not mandatory.
Businesses were enjoying level 1 freedoms, and they had a role to play by making sure their QR codes were prominently displayed and encouraging their customers to scan it.
The case means the foreign fishermen’s stay will be extended for 24 hours while a full picture of the situation is ascertained.
There’s no sense that any horse has bolted here. Ashley Bloomfield , director general of health