Child tests positive for Covid-19 in Japan, despite testing negative in New Zealand

Health authorities are investigating after a child tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival in Japan, despite testing negative for the virus in New Zealand.

A Napier children’s car center was alerted to the situation, but was deemed low risk.
Says Dr. Nick Jones, Hawke’s Bay Medical Health Officer.

The boy was also aboard an Air New Zealand flight from Napier to Auckland on Oct. 22, Jones said.

Anyone aboard flight NZ5018 should remain vigilant for any Covid-19 symptoms, including a new or worsening cough, fever, and loss of taste or smell, and self-isolate or seek testing if they develop symptoms.

Parents of children at a Hawke’s Bay child care center were told that a child, who is now overseas and had returned from abroad to New Zealand earlier this year, presented a possible positive test for Covid-19 after arriving in Japan on Friday.

However, the entire household, including the child, tested negative for the virus before leaving New Zealand.

“Several close family members, who remain in New Zealand, have also been isolated and screened, and all have tested negative for Covid-19,” Jones said.

Jones said Japan’s health authorities were investigating the boy’s case as an alleged historical Covid-19 case or a possible false positive case.

New Zealand continued to take a precautionary approach to the case while the investigation continued, it said.

I expected to have more test results in 48 hours.

The Health Ministry was in regular contact with the Japanese health authorities and will provide information on the case through daily updates, Jones said.

Monday marked the fifth consecutive day that no new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the community.

Five new cases were reported at the border, bringing the total active cases in New Zealand to 74.

Three of the imported cases were part of the international fishing crew that became isolated at the Sudima Hotel Christchurch Airport, bringing the total number of sailors who tested positive to 32.

Today’s three cases were tested on the 9th as they were part of the group that had previously been in close contact with other confirmed cases, the Health Ministry said.

All positive cases are in quarantine.

The other two imported cases include a relative of a positive case who has recently returned and both were already in quarantine at the Auckland quarantine facility.

The other case is a recent returnee who arrived from Ethiopia via Dubai and tested positive in routine tests on Day 3. This person has also been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

The total number of confirmed cases from New Zealand is now 1,584.

Today is the fifth day in a row that there are no new community cases after the two people connected to the marine engineer tested positive on October 17.