Covid 19 coronavirus: Dr. Ashley Bloomfield explains the journey of virus-infected family

By RNZ

An Auckland family infected with Covid-19 was revealed to be on vacation in Taupō and met with a group of more than 10 people, even though Auckland residents were urged to take their alert level restrictions with them. when they travel.

The cases are related to a man who tested positive five days after completing self-administered isolation in Christchurch after flying from India via Fiji on August 26.

The man flew home to Auckland from Christchurch on September 11. Two other people on that flight and a family contact of his later tested positive.

“This family took a trip to Taupō about a week ago, on Friday the 18th, and then returned to Auckland on the 20th,” Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield told RNZ Checkpoint yesterday.

“They were called on Saturday night of the 19th by our contact tracing team after they were identified as being on that flight, the charter flight from Christchurch to Auckland.”

After returning to Auckland on September 20, the family self-isolated and underwent tests for Covid-19, he said.

“While they were in Taupō they met with several other families who had traveled from various parts of the country, and they did a series of activities with those families over the weekend.

“Those families have returned to their places of residence in Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton, another family from Auckland and Kawerau.

“They are all being monitored, each of those families has been monitored by the local public health unit. They were all contacted yesterday, they are isolated and are also being evaluated.

“There was a total of 18 people among the group they met in Taupō, so yeah, it’s not ideal in this situation as they met with a group of more than 10, which was the maximum meeting size for women. people in Auckland, although Auckland locals could travel outside of Auckland, of course.

“But I would say, my feeling is that there was no intention on their part and they were also very assiduous in using the contact tracker app so it really helped us to identify where they have been very quickly.”

Bloomfield said a total of 31 close contacts have been identified so far.

“Eighteen of them are from the trip to Taupō and other close contacts are from people they had been in contact with while in Auckland, before making their trip to Taupō.

“Those who have spent the most time with [the family], or are identified close contacts, the full 14 days will pass [in isolation] even if they test negative. At first, they will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days and will be retested towards the end of their period. “

Bloomfield said he was not at all concerned about those who had reunited with the family in Taupō and returned to cities like Christchurch and Wellington, because those people were quickly identified, isolated and examined.

“Obviously we will want to get the test results from them, which we will expect later today and tomorrow morning.

“We are also testing contact contacts, if there is positive evidence. A couple of these people live in flats with each other. And those people have been asked to isolate themselves until we get the test results from the person who was in the house. Taupō trip.

“Close contacts are the ones that would have already been traced pretty quickly. So if you think about the haircut … a person who did the haircut would be a close contact, they would have been followed up early. And then we move on to the casual contacts, so we do not expect the group of close contacts to grow much more. They are the ones we prioritize to identify, isolate and test. “

Bloomfield said he did not believe the fear of Auckland residents was justified, but it was a good reminder that there was good reason behind the Covid-19 alert level recommendations.

“Even as we get closer to school holidays … a reminder to Aucklandites: It’s great that they will be traveling across the country, and it’s good that we’re in a position where they can, just to be mindful.

“The advice to anyone, and this is how we got through it, late last week a fellow flight, even though he had passed controlled isolation and tested negative twice, developed symptoms, isolated himself and got tested .

“So my plea is, to anyone across the country, if you develop symptoms, isolate yourself, stay home and get tested. This is how we will stay ahead of this virus.”

Health officials are still investigating how the latest spread occurred. “There was the original flight out of Delhi, although that would have meant a long incubation period. If something happened inside the managed isolation facility, we need to keep an open mind about that, and also on the charter flight.

“What I would say is that the person who was identified as the case on Saturday, and the two relatives in the latter group who were on that same flight, were in adjacent rows on the charter flight.

“So what we’re really seeing is that full genome sequencing will tell us who got infected first.

“And we should have that in the next day or two, so it will be really important to be able to put the pieces of this puzzle together.”

Rugby: Will the All Blacks be home for Christmas?

“There is an active discussion going on between the two rugby unions, here and Australia. And I imagine that conversation will happen. I have spoken directly with Mark Robinson of NZ Rugby, and I continue to provide my advice,” said Bloomfield.

“Of course, at this time, government policy is very clear that people entering the country must spend the 14 days in controlled isolation. So we will continue to work with the rugby union and I know they will continue to work with their counterparts across the country the ditch.

“What I focus on in my advice, and as New Zealanders would expect, is the standard for ensuring the safety and maintenance of public health here in New Zealand, and right now that includes 14 days of controlled isolation for people who enter the country.. “

Bloomfield said he had been asked to look into the proposal that the All Blacks serve part of their quarantine time in Australia, which would allow them to get home earlier.

“We are developing some advice on that and will stay in touch with the rugby union.

“We are always looking to see if we can make things work. And there is still a couple of months left before this, a lot of water to float under the bridge before the games start, so let’s see what happens.”

– RNZ