[ad_1]
Covid-19 in a dumpster at a Christchurch managed isolation facility likely led to two people contracting Covid-19, according to the Health Ministry.
Your playlist will load after this announcement.
Public Health Director Caroline McElnay says the trash can is a common factor in several infections. Source: 1 NEWS
Public Health Director Dr. Caroline McElnay gave an update on the cases during the press conference this afternoon at 1 pm.
McElnay said the first case, a person who had arrived from India on August 27, was reported on Sept. 19 to have completed 14 days in controlled isolation at a facility in Christchurch and had returned two negative tests.
She said that person flew, along with others from the managed isolation facility, on a charter flight from Christchurch to Auckland on September 11.
“While we cannot be conclusive, we believe that this person was likely infected on the charter flight by a person sitting behind them, who had also completed 14 days of controlled isolation and returned two negative tests.
“That person did not have any symptoms, but tested positive for Covid-19 on September 23.”
McElnay said investigations at the managed isolation facility showed that the second case, the one reported on Sept. 23, was likely exposed to Covid-19 near the end of its quarantine stay and was likely incubating the virus at the time of its release. test from day 12, which was negative.
The Director of Public Health said public health officials and staff at the Christchurch facility conducted a “thorough investigation” into the origin of the virus and, after using CCTV, believe they have found the source.
“While we cannot be sure, our hypothesis is that the virus may have been transmitted to [the second case] through the surface of a garbage can that was used by another returnee who was likely contagious at the facility.
“This returnee tested positive on day 12 of his stay in controlled isolation, however, he was probably contagious a few days before testing positive.”
As a result of this, the Ministry of Health has now updated its guidelines on the premises so that all containers in public areas are now not touched and all garbage must be securely sealed in plastic bags prior to disposal in the containers.
No other cases were reported from the flight itself, but the domestic contacts of the two confirmed cases contracted Covid-19.
