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A vineyard worker abroad who tested positive for coronavirus after leaving New Zealand likely contracted the virus while traveling home, health authorities say.
Nelson Marlborough Health revealed on Monday that a confirmed coronavirus case had links to a vineyard in the region.
He has declined to say whether the vineyard was in Marlborough or Nelson, or when the positive result returned.
The clinical director of public health, Dr. Stephen Bridgman, said that once the case was confirmed abroad, contacts in New Zealand were followed up and close contacts were isolated and symptoms monitored.
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The Public Health Service was informed of the case by the vineyard and “we commend this proactivity,” said Bridgman.
“The case was confirmed in a person in another country, who had been in New Zealand for a period of time,” he said.
“It is very likely that the case was contracted once the person left New Zealand and started traveling.”
Nelson Marlborough Health confirmed Tuesday that the vineyard worker had never been included in New Zealand’s total case count.
Not for syndication
Nelson Marlborough Health aimed to perform 470 asymptomatic tests this week.
Approximately 40 workers in the vineyard would be screened for coronavirus this week as part of a surveillance program for people without symptoms.
Nelson Marlborough Health began surveillance tests of groups identified as “highest risk” on Monday at the request of the Ministry of Health.
They included staff in the vineyard, international travelers who returned to the region, essential workers who had been in direct contact with a case, and employees at the New World Stoke supermarket, where a worker was confirmed as a positive case last week.
Wine Marlborough manager Marcus Pickens said he did not know about the positive case with links to a vineyard in the upper south.
Scott Hammond / Things
Wine Marlborough manager Marcus Pickens said they were unaware of a positive case involving a vineyard.
A vineyard or winery was under no obligation to inform Wine Marlborough if a positive case was reported, he said.
“It is a private matter, but obviously we would always be there to support any situation like that,” he said.
He was “certain” that the Marlborough vineyards and wineries had followed strict protocols during the harvest.
Wine Marlborough did not issue guidelines on what to do if there was a suspicious or positive case, but instead directed the wineries towards the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.
“We didn’t go into detail about what to do if a case is suspected or confirmed,” Pickens said.
“That was well instructed by the Ministry of Health, and we certainly would have supported those measures.”
The 2020 vintage of the wine industry, which has just ended under Covid-19 restrictions, was already underway when New Zealand entered the level four lock at midnight on March 25.
Under food and beverage production and processing, the wine industry was considered an essential service and allowed to continue harvesting under strict protocols.
Winery staff moved to isolated accommodations, such as individual motel units and vineyard properties. The shifts were divided and the vineyard and winery staff were unable to mix.
New Zealand winegrowers could not be reached for comment.
There were no new cases of coronavirus at Nelson Marlborough on Tuesday, and New Zealand had its second day with no new cases nationwide.
Scott Hammond / Things
As of May 4, nearly 3,000 people (mostly symptomatic) had been screened for coronaviruses in the upper south.
The total number of coronavirus cases in the upper south remained at 49, of which 46 recovered and three are still being monitored by the public health service.
Nelson has had 23 confirmed cases and five probable cases, while there have been 14 confirmed cases and seven reported probable cases in Marlborough.
Nelson Marlborough Health targeted 470 asymptomatic surveillance tests this week within those target groups: 100 for international travelers returning to the region, 230 for essential workers and 100 for workers at Stoke New World, where one employee tested positive for the week. pass.
As of May 4, nearly 3,000 people (mostly symptomatic) had undergone coronavirus screening in the upper South at community-based assessment centers (CBACs), medical centers, and test stations specific rural areas.
