Communal rubbish bin pinpointed as likely virus contact

The lid on a shared rubbish bin.

That is how a person is thought to have become infected before boarding a charter flight from Christchurch to Auckland and infecting a man on that flight — both of whom having completed 14 days in managed isolation, with negative tests on day three and day 12.

Ministry of Health officials say the rubbish bin has been pinpointed as a “common factor” after extensive contact tracing to identify the source of the passengers’ infection. The rubbish bin was in a corridor on the floor of a Christchurch managed isolation facility, and people had to lift the lid to deposit rubbish.

Between September 5 and 8, according to CCTV footage, a person with Covid- 19 ( who tested positive on September 9 and likely caught Covid19 on a flight from India) shared the bin with a person who ended up on the September 11 charter flight.

“While we cannot be certain, our hypothesis is that the virus may have been transmitted to a person . . . via the surface of a rubbish bin,” said director of public health Dr Caroline McElnay.

The person then sat behind a man on the charter flight whose positive test was reported on September 19.

Previously the man was thought to have had an unusually long incubation period, having tested positive three weeks after flying into New Zealand.

Now he is thought to have caught Covid- 19 on the flight from the person behind him, who didn’t have any symptoms but tested positive on September 23, following the testing of all close contacts on the charter flight.

McElnay said people in managed isolation had to put their own rubbish out in communal bins. There were signs telling them to use hand sanitiser before and after using the bin.

“This particular bin had a lid that required you to lift the lid.”

All bins would now be touch- free, she said, while all rubbish must be securely sealed in plastic bags before being placed in the bins.

It was not dissimilar to the case at the Rydges Hotel, where an infected traveller is thought to have passed Covid- 19 to a maintenance worker who pushed the same lift button.

“What we’re seeing more and more of is that surface contamination can be a cause of Covid transmission,” McElnay said.

After revelations on Thursday that 10 people had Covid- 19 on the same flight from India, McElnay issued a plea to those wanting to fly to NZ.

“In the 14 days prior to departure, people about to return to New Zealand should consider avoiding going to parties, social gatherings, or crowded places, avoiding contact with people who have Covid- 19 or who have been in contact with cases, and staying home as much as possible to limit exposure to other people.

“Doing these things will help reduce the risk of being exposed to Covid- 19, then bringing it home with you. People should also be aware of symptoms and get a test if any develop,” she said.

Health Minister Chris Hipkins yesterday announced a new suite of measures for air crew to come into force next week.

Overseas- based air crew on layovers in NZ will be required to stay in a Government- managed isolation facility for as long as they are in the country, to ensure they avoid contact with New Zealanders

They will be required to wear personal protective equipment on flights, in airports and whenever travelling between the airport and their hotel.

They will also isolate with other crew members while on overseas layovers.

New Zealand- based crew returning to NZ from high- risk locations overseas will be required to selfisolate for at least 48 hours after they return, and until they are assessed as being at low risk of having Covid- 19.

The new measures are part of a public health response order that will come into effect from 11.59pm tomorrow.

The multiple infections on the same flight has prompted University of Otago epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker to push for a week in quarantine and a negative test before travellers can fly into New Zealand from Covid- risky countries.

The National Party has also been pushing for a pre- departure negative test, but Labour leader Jacinda Ardern remains lukewarm on a predeparture test, saying it would “not necessarily” strengthen New Zealand’s overall response.

There were no new cases of Covid19 in New Zealand yesterday.