Auckland bar patrons told to get tested
AUCKLAND: Health authorities in Auckland are asking a group of pubgoers to selfisolate and get tested after a patron tested positive for Covid19.
A person confirmed with Covid19 yesterday was infectious while in The Malt pub in Greenhithe from 7.30pm until 10pm last Friday.
The infected patron is one of two community cases announced by the Ministry of Health earlier yesterday, among 25 new cases across New Zealand.
‘‘Anyone who was at The Malt in Greenhithe during this time should now selfisolate and get tested,’’ an Auckland Regional Public Health Service spokesman said last night.
‘‘A few close contacts in the pub have been identified and are being contacted by the service.’’
Most people in the pub during this time were considered casual contacts, but were being asked to get tested as soon as possible, he said.
‘‘They should stay at home in selfisolation until they receive a negative test result.
‘‘Staff will also be asked to get tested.’’
There would be a popup community testing centre in the Greenhithe area today.
Household members of pub patrons from that night only needed to get tested and stay home if the person who was at the pub became sick or developed any symptoms, or if directed by the public health service, he said.
The Malt had been closed until further notice, owner Kevin McVicar posted online last night.
Directorgeneral of health Ashley Bloomfield said the two new community cases announced yesterday were linked to the port worker who tested positive at the weekend.
One of the community cases was previously considered a casual contact of the port worker and worked in the same small firm.
They spent a few minutes in the same room on Friday morning, Dr Bloomfield said.
They had been tested on Sunday and returned a negative result, but had symptoms on Tuesday and then tested positive.
The second workplace case came back positive yesterday morning; the man had previously tested negative but was retested following the emergence of symptoms on Tuesday.