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Head of Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) Air Commodore Darryn Webb said work is now under way to review personnel records, swipe card data and CCTV footage to map the person’s movements within facilities in recent days. ARPHS is also conducting interviews at Jet Park to identify close contacts among other staff members, along with any potential close contacts outside of work.
Five of the worker’s domestic contacts are isolated at home and must be examined on Sunday. Any other identified close contacts should also self-isolate and be tested.
“The Auckland Jet Park Hotel Quarantine Facility is a strictly controlled environment and, like all managed quarantine and isolation facilities, operates with strict infection prevention control protocols at all times,” said Webb.
“All staff at the Jet Park Quarantine Facility are tested weekly for COVID-19 and all but one staff member has completed routine testing this week as of today. As a result of this positive case, and as extra precaution, all personnel are being retested with 48 employees tested yesterday and the rest will be tested today and tomorrow. “
He added that a “hospital grade cleaning” of the rooms of medical and operational staff has been carried out using a Bioquell machine, which disinfects the areas with hydrogen peroxide vapor.
“We are committed to providing our staff with the information and tools they need to do their jobs safely, and we will work together with health officials to ensure that staff and all individuals currently in the quarantine facility get support right now. “
The Health Ministry said ARPHS is working closely with Jet Park to help verify protocols and procedures to keep both the staff and the people they care for safe.
“Personal protective equipment is one of the various protection measures used by the staff and a review will be carried out by the Infection Prevention Control service by the Risk and Quality team of Northern Managed Facilities to see whether the source of the infection can be found and recommendations made for any additional precautions to be taken in the future, “he said.
This is the first time that a Jet Park staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 since the hotel was converted to a managed isolation facility.
During its five and a half months of operation, the Health Ministry said that 2,532 people and their close contacts have been handled at the facility. This includes people who were transferred from the border, other managed isolation facilities, and the community.
The worker was one of two new COVID-19 cases confirmed Sunday; the other is a returnee abroad who was in controlled isolation.
Another 13 people were classified as recovered overnight, bringing the total number of active cases to 97. Of these, 39 are imported cases at MIQ facilities and 58 are community cases.
The total number of confirmed and probable cases currently stands at 1,797.
Three people are in the hospital: one is isolated in an Auckland City hospital ward and two are in the ICU, one in North Shore and Waikato hospitals.
