Third case of Covid-19 confirmed
Two more cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in a New Zealand.
The second case was a woman in her 30s recently returned to Auckland from northern Italy and travelled to and from Palmerston North on Monday March 2, spending five hours in the city.
The results of the test were formally reported to the Ministry of Health at about 6pm on Tuesday evening.
At that point, health authorities began notifying the woman and her family and started the process of contact tracing.
A third case was confirmed by the Ministry of Health this morning (Thursday) but no details were disclosed about this case.
Although there are now three cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand, with continued vigilance the chance of widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low, the minsitry said.
The woman confirmed with Covid-19, who visited Palmerston North, is in selfisolation in her home with appropriate clinical support from public health and district health board staff.
Self-isolation at home is recognised by the World Health Organisation as an appropriate response for people with mild to moderate symptoms.
She doesn’t require hospital level care.
The woman’s immediate household contacts are with her in self-isolation as a precautionary measure.
The woman’s partner has also displayed symptoms and is being tested.
Public health officials last night began tracing the woman’s other close and casual contacts to ensure appropriate protection measures are in place.
The flight on which the woman returned to New Zealand was on
25 February — NZ0283 Singapore to Auckland. In addition to proactive tracing of close contacts on this flight by public health staff, contact will be made with everyone on the flight to provide relevant information.
Close contacts are people who were in the same row of seats, the two rows in front and the two rows behind.
Anyone who was on this flight and is concerned or would like information should contact the Healthline number 0800 358 5453.
The woman who has now tested positive for coronavirus also took two domestic flights.
2 March — NZ5013 Auckland to Palmerston North
2 March — NZ8114
Palmerston North to Auckland
In addition to proactive tracing of close contacts on this flight by public health staff, contact will be made with everyone on the flight to provide relevant information.
Anyone who was on this flight and is concerned or would like information should contact the Healthline number 0800 358 5453.
Contact is being made with the two medical centres where the woman sought advice and treatment.
Appropriate contact tracing and action will be taken as required.
Two schools have also been notified about the positive test as there is a family member at each of those schools.
These schools are Westlake
Boys and Westlake Girls High Schools.
The family members who attend these schools are not symptomatic and are now at home in isolation.
They did not travel to Italy, are both well and are being monitored.
The Ministries of Education and Health will work together to provide the schools with appropriate advice and support. The Ministries also want to emphasise that contacts of contacts are not risk.
“I want to say that this is a Kiwi family that has been affected by a virus that is part of a worldwide outbreak,” Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said.
“What they need is support and understanding.”