Air New Zealand crew member tests positive for Covid-19

An Air New Zealand crew member tested positive for Covid-19.

The crew member is the only new positive case in the country today. They arrived in New Zealand on December 9 on a flight from the United States.

The person tested positive as part of the required mandatory tests within 48 hours of their operation in the US.

The risk to the general public is considered low, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

The Covid-19 positive crew member has self-isolated in his room at a facility used by Air New Zealand for the aircrew and is being transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

This person is currently asymptomatic, the ministry said. They previously tested negative on December 3.

“The results of our latest tests indicate that it is a very new infection,” said a statement from the Ministry of Health.

“We will continue to investigate this case and more information will be provided in our regular press release tomorrow at 1 pm.”

All other aircrews on the flight have tested negative and will remain isolated.

As a precautionary measure, all crew and personnel who have been in or working at the facility since Wednesday, December 9, will be considered potential contacts.

They are asked to take the test and self-isolate until the test results are known. The tests will be available on the premises from this afternoon and tomorrow.