Virus claims father of four

AUCKLAND: A father of four in his 50s died at Middlemore Hospital yesterday after being admitted with Covid19.

He is the youngest person whose death has been linked to the virus in New Zealand and the first Covidrelated death in the country since May 28.

It is also the first death from the Auckland cluster, to which 152 people have been linked.

The total number of Covid19related deaths in New Zealand is now 23.

Newshub have reported the man was a father of four and worked at Mt Wellington coolstore Americold with the man who was the cluster’s index case.

The Ministry of Health said his family were regularly updated and his wife and son were able to visit him, using full PPE.

Directorgeneral of health Ashley Bloomfield said he acknowledged the anxiety New Zealanders ‘‘may be feeling about today’s news, both in the wider community and also for the family and whanau grieving over this death’’.

‘‘We have always recognised that further deaths linked to

Covid19 were possible.

‘‘Although the health system has done and will continue to do everything we can to prevent them, this can be a very challenging virus to treat and for some people to recover from.

‘‘Today’s news reinforces the importance of our shared vigilance against Covid19, the very serious consequences the virus can carry with it, and the measures we all need to take to stop the spread, break any chain of transmission and prevent deaths.’’ — The New Zealand Herald