Unlikely infected visitor spread Covid-19

Health authorities are still following up the eight Hawke’s Bay sites visited last week by a confirmed Covid-19 case while symptomatic.

The person visited the various premises between March 17-19, including Gladys Mary Care Home in Tamatea, Hohepa in Clive, Harvey Norman and Cornucopia in Hastings, Weleda in Havelock North, Te Mata Bakehouse and Mission Winery Estate.

Te Mata Bakehouse said it had found out only via social media. “We believe the risk of spread was low, based on the information stated in the articles and have we have not had any contact made from the district health board or associated organisation regarding possible close contact tracing.

“All staff are currently well and are not showing any symptoms.”

The business was now closed due to the lockdown.

Cornucopia’s Kaye Keats said she was “initially very worried” to learn a customer had been in store when sick with Covid-19, “especially as we had heard nothing from the DHB at all to inform us.

“However, we have been reassured by the DHB that their visit was very brief, and the risk of anyone getting ill was very low.”

She said as Cornucopia was an essential service, it would stay open for pick up and delivery orders only.

Weleda Pharmacy general manager Fred Dryburgh said the company had introduced “strict hygiene and safety measures prior to the visit”.

“We are reassured by public health that the risk of infection spread is extremely low,” Dryburgh said.

Hohepa Hawke’s Bay, which has more than 60 residents living in its community, said it was informed by the public health team and was “confident that everything than can be done is being implemented for everyone’s safety. We have a good contingency plan in place which we are continually reviewing and adapting as it’s necessary,” general manager Santiago De Marco said.

Harvey Norman said it was alerted to the case via media release.

“We reached out to the Hawke’s Bay DHB. They indicated that the risk of close contact, and therefore transmission of Covid-19 to any Harvey Norman team member, was low.

“We are closely monitoring official guidance around new cases of Covid-19, both nationally and regionally, to keep our teams informed where needed. We will continue to be in touch with our Hastings team.”

Mission Estate Winery was not available for comment.

The DHB’s medical officer of health, Dr Nick Jones, called for calm and said the likelihood of the infection being passed on while the person was visiting was “extremely low”.

“Many of the places visited already had stringent hygiene measures in place at the time of the visit which will have reduced the risk to the wider public even further,” he said. “To be a close contact you have to stand less than two metres from a symptomatic person for more than 15 minutes, which is unlikely the case in any of these locations.”