Sixteen people have been identified as potential close contacts of a woman infected with a South African strain of COVID-19 in New Zealand’s north island.
NZ’s Ministry of Health said of those close contacts, 15 people had returned negative tests, including a household contact of the case.
“An additional close contact is awaiting their test result,” the Ministry said.
“A total of 157 staff from the managed isolation facility at Pullman Hotel have been tested, along with 192 guests currently in the facility.
“Of those, 30 still have test results to come, and all others have returned negative results.”
New Zealand’s contact tracing staff are following up with 357 people who departed the managed isolation facility between 9 and 24 January.
“Of that number, 325 have been contacted, are isolation and have been or are being tested. The remaining former guests are being followed up today.”
“187 people received a push notification as a result of having scanned into one of 31 locations of interest. A further location was added yesterday and is on the Ministry’s website. At this time 154 people have been identified as ‘casual plus’ contacts, as a result of either the push notification or after speaking with Healthline following media publicity. These people are being tested and are isolating until they receive their result.”
The Ministry said the source investigation into how the Northland case was infected continued today at the managed isolation facility and included reviewing CCTV footage at the facility and looking at whether the infection may have occurred from person-to-person or surface transmission, or airborne transmission, including possibly the ventilation system.
Meanwhile, in official figures released this morning, there are two new cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation in New Zealand since yesterday, and no new cases in the community.
“We’d like to take this opportunity to again thank the tireless efforts of all staff working in managed isolation and quarantine facilities around New Zealand,” the Ministry said.
“Your frontline efforts to help break the chain of transmission of COVID-19 and keep New Zealanders safe and healthy are truly appreciated.”
