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The Prime Minister and the Director General of Health ruled out any immediate change in restriction levels after a man working on ships in Taranaki and Auckland was confirmed as the latest community case of coronavirus.
In a rare Sunday news conference, Health Director General Ashley Bloomfield said there was little risk of the disease spreading from this new community case and that the source was likely to have passed over the border.
Bloomfield said the man was examined a few hours after developing Covid-19 symptoms on Oct. 16.
Katarina Williams / Things
Dr. Ashley Bloomfield announces a new case of community transmission on Sunday.
He had recently worked on two ships docked in Auckland ports and Taranaki ports. One of the boats had recently been to Auckland, Taranaki and Lyttleton and was due to arrive in Napier on Sunday. No one on board has symptoms, but the crew will need a public health clearance before they can get off the ship.
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In a post-election press conference, Jacinda Ardern said there was no reason to suggest the need to move alert levels.
He was confident that there was sufficient evidence from the high-risk workers and said the new community case had been tested four times previously.
The public could not have been informed earlier, the prime minister said.
ABIGAIL DOUGHERTY // Things
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, flanked by Chris Hipkins, speaks to the media in Auckland about the latest case of coronavirus.
Speaking at the same press conference, Health Minister Chris Hipkins added that nothing about this case should suggest an imminent move towards alert levels as it appears to be well contained.
He said it was not appropriate to go public with the new case when he learned about it at 6.11 p.m. Saturday night before polls closed.
“It is customary for it to be announced the next day once we have more background on the case.”
He said there was no cause for alarm and that the system was working.
“The working theory is that it has come out of one of those boats.”
Bloomfield said the man was in New Plymouth for work purposes, while he may have been contagious on October 14-15. He wore a mask and gloves while on the ship.
He spent time in a hotel and motel and the rooms he stayed in are being thoroughly cleaned.
The man’s close contacts are all in controlled isolation or quarantine.
He had a negative test result during routine tests by port personnel on October 2.
Bloomfield said the case showed how well New Zealand’s processes were working, but “the case is another reminder that Covid-19 is not going away anytime soon.”
He added that the risk of community transmission was “low.”
There are no plans to blockade any part of the country at this time.
The man, who works as a marine electronics technician, drove alone from New Plymouth to Auckland on Wednesday and spent the day at home on Thursday, in addition to going out looking for food.
He went to work on Friday before going to get tested for Covid-19 after feeling bad.
Bloomfield said staff at the testing center where the swab was taken did everything right.
The man is now staying at Auckland’s Jet Park quarantine facility. His four household contacts are isolated and have been evaluated.
Sources in the shipping industry said the man was unlikely to have had much contact with anyone on board the ships he worked on.
You are likely one of the few experienced marine electronics technicians working across the country.
The man is believed to have only boarded two ships in Auckland harbors.
The ship’s captain reportedly called in the technician to address an issue, such as a radar failure, an experienced source from the maritime industry said.
Such workers had minimal contact with people on board the ships, especially in the Covid era, where seafarers took extra precautions, the source said.
Two new cases of managed isolation were also announced on Sunday.
One person tested positive on the 12th after arriving from England via Dubai on October 5.
The other person tested positive on the third day of their stay in controlled isolation. They arrived from the United Arab Emirates on October 13
A landmark case in Wellington announced by the ministry on Friday has also been reported. That person has recovered.
Another case of controlled isolation that had been reported on Saturday is now considered “under investigation,” Bloomfield said.
In total, 1,530 confirmed coronavirus cases were found in New Zealand, 42 of which were active on Sunday.
Alden Williams / Stuff
Health authorities are reminding people to get tested for Covid-19 if they are sick, as a community case is confirmed. (File photo)
After the confirmation of the community case, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff reiterated the warnings for people to stay alert.
“With the virus rampant around the world, there is a continuing risk of transmission at the border. The important thing is that we have the systems to ensure that those cases are caught early, and that is what has happened here, “Goff said in a statement.
“We all know what to do: get tested if you feel unwell, follow good hygiene practices, including regular hand washing, and track your movements with the NZ Covid Tracer app.”
