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The partner of a man sitting in the same row as a person who tested positive for Covid-19 today says they have received conflicting information on whether to stay home and isolate themselves.
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The partner of a man who sat near the infected person says they have received conflicting advice from the Ministry of Health. Source: 1 NEWS
It comes after it was revealed this afternoon that a second Defense Forces worker had contracted the disease. Today’s new case was a close contact from a Defense Force service member who had been working at Auckland’s Jet Park managed isolation facility, and had tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday afternoon.
The NZDF Defense House headquarters, in Wellington, was temporarily closed today after six members of Defense Force personnel were identified as close contacts of the second case, a civilian with employment ties to the NZDF.
“We have established that there are six close contacts,” said Tony Davies of the NZDF. “All those people are isolated and we are waiting for the test results for those people.”
The civilian had met with Jet Park staff in Auckland on Wednesday 5 November, before flying home to Wellington.
Since then, the Ministry of Health has asked anyone on Air New Zealand flight NZ 457, which left Auckland at 7.45pm and was seated in row 23 or two seats to either side in all directions, to be test and self-isolate until 19 November. .
Alerts have also been sent to travelers who may have been to a number of Auckland airport restaurants and a car rental company, as well as a Wellington restaurant the next day.
However, the partner of a man sitting in row 23 told 1 NEWS that this morning they had received contradictory information from the Ministry of Health.
He said he was told that his partner was a casual contact on today’s case, but that he could continue working. But when the couple checked with Healthline, they were told he was a close contact and to stay home and get tested.
Leading epidemiologist Michael Baker said the spread strengthens the case for Covid-19 surveillance, even when the country is at Level 1, adding that the masks offer protection against possible infection.
“There is cause for concern because we know that this virus can be transmitted on airplanes. One of the questions, of course, is whether the infected person was wearing a mask, for example. “
Face masks are not required for persons on aircraft below alert level 1.
Baker reminds those living with self-isolating workers to stay socially detached and follow strict hygiene rules, like washing hands.
Defense House’s 1,300-employee staff is currently working from home while the building is closed for deep cleaning.
“Starting in the areas where our positive case was, as a priority, but then we will work our way through the rest of the building,” Davies said.
