Covid 19 coronavirus: Air New Zealand crew member tests positive for Covid, Auckland Airport Countdown supermarket is a ‘location of interest’

An Air New Zealand crew member has tested positive for Covid-19, and Auckland Airport’s Countdown supermarket has been identified as one of the first ‘locations of interest’.

The crew member arrived in Auckland on a flight from Tokyo on February 28; They came back negative after a Covid test that day, but positive after a routine test yesterday.

They were transferred to the Auckland Quarantine Facility at Jet Park. The three family members of the individual’s household have already been evaluated today and the results were all negative, says the Ministry of Health.

Fourteen other aircrews on the same flight as the last case were contacted, isolated and re-examined, the ministry said tonight.

Anyone who was in the Auckland Airport Countdown store last Wednesday, March 3, between 12:07 pm and 1:22 pm, should monitor their health for the next 10 days (until March 17).

If they feel unwell or develop symptoms, they should contact Healthline on 0800 358 5454, get tested, and stay home until a negative result is received.

The Herald also understands that the flight attendant’s close contact partner played golf today with several friends at Remuera Golf Club.

He later tested negative, but a source told the Herald that the man’s golf partners had been contacted today by the Health Ministry and told to isolate themselves.

The ministry confirmed that a family member played golf this morning but subsequently tested negative, meaning they were not considered to be infectious while on the golf course.

The ministry said there was also a health appointment that made the new positive case that was being evaluated.

“Everyone attending the same clinic at the same time is being identified and will be contacted and given specific health advice.”

Air New Zealand Medical Director Dr Ben Johnston confirmed the case tonight.

“The aircrew member tested negative for Covid-19 on February 23 and 28 as part of the regular surveillance testing program established for international aircrew. His last duty was flight NZ90 from Tokyo to Auckland on 28 February. February, after which they returned a negative Covid-19 test.

“On March 6 (yesterday) they were retested in Auckland as part of their regular surveillance tests and tested positive. The aircrew member is now isolating himself on the advice of the Ministry of Health.”

Johnston said that all other aircrew who were considered close contacts were being warned and would be isolated and screened in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Health.

“There are important precautions for our crew operating to international destinations set by the Ministry of Health, and we are confident that our people are diligently following the protocols,” said Johnston.

“For Japan, these include taking private transportation to and from your hotel, isolating yourself at the hotel during the layover, and wearing PPE while traveling to and from the hotel, through the airport and on board. The aircrew is also subject to surveillance testing. periodic where they are tested up to once every seven days “.

An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said the Health Ministry does not require the crew to isolate themselves upon return from Japan, however they must undergo a health assessment.

Countdown Health and Safety General Manager Kiri Hannifin said they were contacted by the Auckland District Board of Health tonight about a visit to the Countdown Auckland Airport store.

“The customer visited our store on Wednesday March 3 starting at 12:37 PM for approximately 30 minutes.

“The Ministry of Health has informed us that this visit is considered low risk and casual contact exposure. Customers who shopped at the store at this time are not required to isolate themselves, but should be tested if they develop any symptoms.

“We are now going through our own processes, including deep cleaning the store overnight as an added precaution.”

The Health Ministry said the case had been identified today after a swab was taken yesterday as part of routine surveillance tests.

“The person was transferred today to the Auckland quarantine facility,” the ministry said.

“The initial Public Health assessment is that there is a low risk to the public as Auckland is at Alert Level 3 during the period this case was back in New Zealand and in isolation or at home during the most of that time, “the report said. Said the Ministry of Health.

University of Otago epidemiologist professor Michael Baker said the fact that the case was caught through routine tests and that household members tested negative is good news.

“This is a case of infection from someone infected at the border. There has been a very quick follow-up of all three members of your household today who were tested and tested negative. The other good news is that Auckland was at alert level 3 for that they were not away from home. “

But he said that throughout the pandemic it has been “a source of concern” that there is a different process for aircrews to return to New Zealand.

“They have never gone through the standard process that other returning travelers do, which is MIQ of 14 days. There have been reasons for that, but obviously it is an area of ​​vulnerability.”

For members of the public, the tests are available at six Community Testing Centers (CTCs) throughout Auckland, as well as general offices and urgent care clinics.

“There is currently good capacity in the test system, and the CTCs in Otara (South Auckland) and Wiri (South Auckland) have additional staff available to meet any increased demand. Visit arphs.health.nz/covid19test to learn about the test locations “. said the ministry.

The ministry said the aircrew member was a frequent user of the Covid tracking app, which was helping staff “identify potential exposure events and assess any risks from their activities.”

“Specific advice will be provided to individuals identified as contacts by public health personnel on the steps to take.

“The results of the genome sequencing are expected Tuesday and will help rule out any local transmission.”

There is no government press conference scheduled for tonight. A new update will be provided tomorrow.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the system was designed to detect infections among aircrew early on “and at this point it appears the infection was detected very early.”

“The investigation of the case will tell us if there is anything we need to be concerned about and we will get more information about it in the next 24 to 48 hours,” he told the Herald.

When asked if there was any possibility that Auckland would be blocked again by the new case, Hipkins said: “It would have to be something very unexpected for that to be the case. I think it is highly unlikely that there is any need to do so. climb. It seems very contained. “

Johnston said the airline was making “excellent progress” with launching the vaccine for its front-line employees. He looked forward to “looking forward to the additional layer of protection this will offer our aircrew on international duty.”

Under Covid rules, aircrew members must undergo Covid-19 testing every seven days.

All Air New Zealand crews returning to New Zealand after flying “higher risk” routes must isolate themselves at a pre-arranged hotel for 48 hours. Los Angeles and San Francisco are currently designated as the highest risk routes.

Once they have tested negative, they can leave the hotel.

E tū Aviation Chief Savage said Air New Zealand pilots and cabin crew employees received more detailed information from the company on the new case tonight.

“Other workers on the last flight they manned are being retested. All crew members, pilots and flight attendants, undergo weekly surveillance tests, and Auckland has been at Alert Level 3 since the positive test case arrived. from his last tour of duty.

“At this stage, we are awaiting more detailed information, but until genome sequencing and more information on contact tracing are available, we will not speculate on what has happened and whether further improvement of safety requirements is necessary.”

“Receiving a positive test result is a stressful time for any worker, and this latest incident is a reminder of how important border security and vaccine deployment is to border workers.”

Seven days of zero community cases

News of the border case tonight came as Auckland residents enjoyed the first day of level 2 freedom after a week of lockdown, and the rest of New Zealand returned to level 1.

There have been seven days in a row with no community cases.

A case of managed isolation was announced today: a person who arrived in the country on March 4 from South Africa via Qatar.