Update on Auckland today
WELLINGTON: New Zealanders will today have a ‘‘better picture’’ as to whether there has been any community transmission in Auckland, as the city prepares for its anniversary long weekend.
Much hinges on what happens with the test results of 48 returnees, who stayed alongside four confirmed Covid19 cases at the Pullman Hotel and who have since left the facility.
Neither Ministry of Health officials, directorgeneral of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield or Covid19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins know how many in that cohort have been tested, or how many have been contacted.
‘‘We will have a very good picture by [1pm today], especially with all the testing that has been done,’’ Dr Bloomfield said yesterday.
Australian deputy chief medical officer Michael Kidd said last night at least 12 people who completed quarantine at the Pullman had travelled to Australia.
‘‘We have been advised that a small number of people who were in hotel quarantine in the Pullman . . . at the same time as these other cases have since travelled to Australia on green zone flights, before the pause was introduced on Monday afternoon,’’ Prof Kidd said.
‘‘All these people are being followed up by the health authorities in the state where they landed.
‘‘We know that 12 people who were in quarantine at the Pullman Hotel have arrived in Sydney.
‘‘Three of these people have travelled on to Hong Kong and the authorities there have been advised.
‘‘Two of these people travelled on to Queensland and the authorities there have also been advised.
‘‘The others are all being followed up in New South Wales and are being tested.’’
Dr Ashley Bloomfield said he could not confirm the report.
It is not known if any of these 12 were part of the cohort of 48 who have yet to return a negative test.
The Australian Government yesterday extended its suspension of its oneway travel bubble with New Zealand for another 72 hours, until 4pm on Sunday.
Prime Minister Jacinda
Ardern said yesterday she retained confidence in New Zealand’s systems and processes but acknowledged the decision was for the Australian Government to make.
Mr Hipkins said yesterday New Zealand’s MIQ standard was at a ‘‘platinum’’ level.
‘‘We’re not seeing any evidence of community transmission,’’ he said.
‘‘At this point, I haven’t seen information that would indicate that there is that risk,’’ he said yesterday.
Ms Ardern said the Government was investigating ‘‘extra requirements’’ for those leaving
MIQ facilities in light of the new Auckland cases.
Although the Government had not gone into detail about these new requirements, University of Otago epidemiologist Prof Michael Baker said those leaving MIQ facilities should be required to selfisolate for a week.
‘‘Quite clearly, the period, after you leave MIQ, you are still at an elevated risk.’’
The Pullman Hotel remains in the spotlight as officials investigate how three people contracted the virus during their isolation.
One other person was the source case who infected the others.
The facility is now closed to new arrivals, and once all those currently isolating have left, it will undergo a hospitalgrade deep clean.
Mr Hipkins announced yesterday all returnees across all managed isolation facilities would now be required to stay in their rooms for the last two days of their time there.
‘‘The day three and the day 12 [testing], when we introduced it, was the gold standard. Now we’ve moved into a platinum standard.’’
Officials are rushing to get in contact with everyone who left the Pullman between January 9 and 13, telling them to get a test and selfisolate.
Mr Hipkins said that of the 353 guests who left the facility over that period, 303 had tested negative for Covid19.
Two were positive — they are the cases outlined by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday night, who became infected while isolating at the Pullman.
Dr Bloomfield said on Wednesday the pair who tested positive were a father and daughter in Auckland’s North Shore.
They left the Pullman on January 15 and had since been moved into quarantine.
The child’s mother, who had tested negative, was in selfisolation. — The New Zealand Herald