Covid 19 coronavirus: Six Covid cases, including one in the community that flew on Air NZ on Thursday

A Covid-infected quarantine worker in Auckland is believed to have infected another worker who later traveled to Wellington, but the Health Ministry is currently not recommending any changes to alert levels.

Both are Defense Force employees, and one of them flew from Auckland to Wellington on Thursday on flight NZ 457, sitting in row 23.

Officials are now asking everyone seated within two rows of the worker to get tested and isolate themselves until November 19. All your domestic contacts are also asked to isolate themselves until the in-flight contact is negative.

The worker (Case B) on the flight had a meeting on Wednesday with a Defense Forces worker (Case A) based at Auckland’s Jet Park quarantine facility who tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday.

“Those attending this meeting have been identified and are isolated,” the Health Ministry said today in a statement.

“Case B flew from Auckland to Wellington on Thursday night (November 5) on Air New Zealand flight NZ 457 and sat in row 23,” the ministry said.

In addition to those sitting two rows from the person, the ministry said anyone on the flight concerned about their health should call Healthline on 0800 358 5453.

Defense Force Deputy Chief Deputy Air Marshal Tony Davies said Case B was a civilian employee who met with duty personnel in Auckland on Wednesday before duty personnel tested positive.

The civilian, who is based out of the NZDF headquarters in Wellington, is now in a quarantine facility in Wellington. Five isolated domestic contacts are being tested.

Davis said the service person is being cared for and has provided an excellent account of his movements to allow for a quick and thorough contact tracing process.

Wellington-based Defense House, which employs around 1,300 people, has been closed for deep cleaning and all staff will be working from home until further notice.

Davis said other Defense House-based organizations are being advised and that his staff will also work from home.

He said contact tracing was underway and that any close contacts of the affected person had already been identified and reported. The NZDF would be distributing health messages and tips to all staff.

“We take the health and safety of our military personnel and civilian employees very seriously, and we will do everything we can to keep people informed and manage the situation.”

“We are also in contact with the Ministry of Health and we are complying with their protocols.”

Genomic sequencing of Case A shows a link to the positive cases in the Jet Park facility quarantine, and officials are investigating how they became infected.

Case B developed mild symptoms Friday night and officials are reconstructing his movements while they were potentially infectious.

“Relevant places of interest, including businesses, will be contacted and publicly notified as they become available,” the ministry said.

“Close contacts will be contacted directly.”

The ministry was not recommending any change in alert levels at this stage.

“At this point, there is nothing to suggest that there is an increased risk in the Auckland or Wellington regions. If anyone is concerned about their health or wants more information about testing, they can call Healthline on 0800 358 5453.”

The ministry is still investigating how two health workers were infected at Sudima’s facility in Christchurch. Both interacted with infected sailors, although genome sequencing suggests they have different strains from each other.

Case B is one of six new cases reported today.

Five cases were in controlled isolation and are now all in the Auckland quarantine facility:

• A case that arrived from Italy via Hawaii on November 3 and tested positive around the third day of routine testing.

• Two cases that arrived from the United Arab Emirates on November 3 and tested positive around the third day of routine testing. Note that these people did not travel together.

• A case that arrived from Romania via Doha and Australia on November 3 and tested positive around the third day of routine testing.

• A case that arrived from Germany via the United Arab Emirates on November 5 and was transferred directly to the quarantine facility after appearing symptomatic.

The total number of active cases is 48, while 4116 tests were carried out yesterday.

The tests are available to the public in Auckland at community testing centers and urgent care clinics throughout the city. Details on where to get tested are available on the Auckland Regional Public Health Service website.

In the capital, tests are available at the following CBACs, 196 Taranaki Street, Wellington Central; 178 Bedford Street, Cannons Creek Porirua; and the Lower Hutt Central CBAC.

Appointments for testing can also be made at Team Medical, 1 Coastlands Parade, Paraparaumu. The schedule for this afternoon has been extended at the Porirua site.

“Contact Healthline for information and advice on Wellington sites. They will direct you to the correct phone number to book a test,” the ministry said.

As of yesterday, there was no community spread by the Auckland Jet Park worker, but 25 of the person’s colleagues had been isolated.

Of the 25, six had tested negative while other results were pending.

It is at least the seventh time in just over three months that the virus has been contracted in an isolation or managed quarantine (MIQ) facility in the community.