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South Aucklanders are urged to treat a man’s death from Covid-19 as a wake-up call.
The man, in his 50s, died at Middlemore Hospital on Friday.
He was admitted to Middlemore through the emergency department from quarantine and was treated in the intensive care unit, the Health Ministry said.
Manukau District Councilor Alf Filipaina said Friday the death made the outbreak feel very close to home.
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“I have no doubt that I will meet the family or meet someone who knows the family. It’s an incredibly sad moment, ”she said.
“But I hope that something good can come up in the sense that it wakes people up a bit. We have to go and get tested, especially in South Auckland. Go and get tested. “
The president of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board, Lotu Fuli, said the death was the “worst possible result” and that she was sending her condolences to the man’s family.
“We were preparing for this as a community, it was to be expected, but it doesn’t make it easier to listen to or, of course, to deal with people close to the family.”
South Auckland was “lucky” during the first Covid-19 outbreak and was not really affected by the virus, he said.
“However, there was always the risk that if it hit South Auckland it could be really devastating and we are obviously seeing that today.”
Fuli said she wasn’t sure if the deceased person was Pasifika, but the community was communal in nature.
His bubble includes 14 people, he said.
“We congregate in places like churches and youth groups. So there was a real fear that if it got here, it would spread pretty quickly. “
Fuli said he hoped the “tragedy” would inspire people to be more vigilant about Covid-19 and make sure they are getting tested.
“There are a lot of people with masks, but there are still quite a few quite relaxed with the rules of level 2.
“I think something like this will really affect people and hopefully remind everyone how seriously we should take this.”
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said the news of the death was very sad.
“My thoughts are with the man’s family and friends at this difficult time.
“This death is a sad reminder of the seriousness of the virus and why we all have to do our bit for our families and our community to stop its spread following the advice of health experts.”