Covid 19 coronavirus: ‘Low health risk’ of community case of Hamilton Covid-19

Public health director Caroline McElnay has admitted that health officials are “scratching our heads” over the most recent cases of Pullman Covid-19, after another ex-MIQ returnee tested positive.

The Ministry of Health confirmed today a community case of Covid-19 in Hamilton.

The person had been isolating since January 30 and had returned three negative tests, the most recent on February 2.

She said the ministry was not advising people to cancel events. A Hamilton Waitangi Day event was canceled this morning, and the hosts referred to information obtained from a “credible health source”, there was a new positive case of Covid-19 in the community.

McElnay said this afternoon that it is a requirement that everyone exiting the Pullman have to isolate themselves for five days after they left.

This case did this.

“We are looking at all the options,” he said, when asked if people need to isolate themselves longer.

“That is something that is under active review.”

He said it would be a “very sensible precaution.”

McElnay said the ministry has considered extending the quarantine period.

The person was in the Pullman from January 16-30. The person was on the same floor as some of the other recent positive cases.

When asked if there was a crossover with other recent positive Pullman cases, he said he would have to check. Northland’s recent positive case left the facility on January 15.

McElnay said the ministry was still investigating how it spread.

“We have not ruled out any possibility …

“We’re scratching our heads a bit,” he said, in response to a question about the most recent Pullman outbreak.

She said there are strong systems in place right now, but said “I don’t know if that’s luck.”

He talked about the New Zealand systems and said they have been tried and tested.

The Hamilton individual’s last test came back positive yesterday afternoon.

They were a recent returnee from abroad.

He did not know if the Covid-19 strain was the South African variant. More tests are underway and the person is now in Jet Park.

The person lives with two other people, who are being treated as close contacts. Both have yielded negative results.

All the people wore masks in the common places of the house.

McElnay said there are no locations of interest at this stage.

She said the only people who need to be tested are symptomatic people, as is normal.

Waikato DHB has expanded the number of test stations.

At Pullman, he said an investigation into the facility is continuing. McElnay said the Ministry has been looking for common areas.

McElnay said there are 60 people left in the Pullman. The guests who will leave tomorrow are the final leg to leave.

A “deep review” of all MIQ facilities is underway, but was unable to provide a timeline for when the results would be available.

McElnay is “very certain” that this person did not go out while in isolation.

“They’ve stayed home, they haven’t been anywhere else,” McElnay said.

She has a “high degree of assurance” that this case is contained.

McElnay was unsure of the chain of transmission and said this person “could be a historical case” but they are running more tests.

The person remains asymptomatic.
McElnay said it is critical that swabs be done to the “highest standard.”

He said he’s confident in the testing regime.

There are two other cases of Covid-19 today, one at the border and the other historical.

This morning, the Health Ministry downplayed the seriousness of the situation, saying the risk to public health is low.

“People in and around Hamilton should not be alarmed,” the ministry said in a statement this morning.

The new case is someone who stayed at the Pullman Hotel and has been isolating himself since he returned home on January 30.

Officials said the person returned three negative tests before they tested positive for Covid-19.

“The case reinforces the importance of self-isolation and the retest strategy we have adopted around people leaving controlled isolation at the Pullman.”

The Health Ministry statement came after a Hamilton Waitangi Day event was canceled as, according to the hosts, a “credible health source” said there was a new positive case of Covid-19 in the community.

At first, health officials did not confirm the case, but Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate told Stuff that the Health Ministry was investigating a “potential low-risk case.”

“People are understandably anxious. Everybody wants to keep this virus at bay,” he said.

“It’s certainly not the time to panic or anything,” she said, adding that she hadn’t been given a reason to be concerned at this point.

Today’s new case is the fifth case of someone testing positive for Covid after leaving managed isolation at the Pullman Hotel.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins ordered an investigation at the hotel to find out why the virus had spread.

The results of that investigation have not been made public.

Hipkins also ordered a “deep cleaning” of the hotel before someone new could isolate themselves on the premises.