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Lawrence Smith / Stuff
Fourteen Air New Zealand workers are in controlled isolation after one tested positive. (File photo)
An Air New Zealand staff member who tested positive for Covid-19 likely contracted the virus overseas, the Health Ministry says.
Genome sequencing was completed overnight and the results were announced at 1 p.m. Thursday.
“Results of genome sequencing show that the lineage of this infection is not associated with any New Zealand cases that have been sequenced, indicating that international exposure is more likely,” the ministry said.
RNZ
Urgent genome sequencing in the case of an Air New Zealand crew member with Covid-19 could provide further clues as to where they became infected.
The worker returned a positive test for the virus while in China, then again in New Zealand after returning on Wednesday.
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“Because this case was first reported in China, it is officially a case in China, not New Zealand, so as we report it, it does not enter our official Covid-19 case count,” the ministry said. .
“The ministry continues to investigate how this most recent confirmed case of Covid-19 was contracted.
“Although the source of the infection is still unknown, we continue to take precautionary measures in New Zealand.”
RICKY WILSON / Stuff
Air New Zealand workers are at the Auckland quarantine facility, Jet Park Hotel.
The worker and 12 close contacts are now at the Auckland quarantine facility, Jet Park.
“More test samples from the staff member’s close contacts have been quickly processed and nine results have been returned, all of which are negative,” the ministry said.
Dr Ben Johnston, Air New Zealand Medical Director, said Things on Thursday, the crew member had returned to the country on a cargo flight on Wednesday morning.
“While this was considered a possible case, we took every precaution to take care of our crew and organize their safe and sound return home,” he said.
“The crew were in separate rooms in a quarantine facility run by the Chinese authorities and traveled back to New Zealand on a cargo flight only to avoid contact with customers.”
Johnston said several crew members identified as close contacts were kept separate from the Covid-positive crew member and other crew members on their return trip.
“All the crew wore PPE during the trip and now they are being monitored, isolated and tested in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Health.”
He said that all other cabin crew and pilots have tested negative.
RICKY WILSON / THINGS
Senior Medical Officer Richard Chen and his colleagues at the Jet Park quarantine facility have assisted nearly every Covid-19 case from the Auckland August group (first published October 2020).
Six push notifications have been sent through the Covid Tracer app for locations of interest visited by the Air New Zealand worker, the ministry said.
“About 10 a.m. [Thursday], 96 users of the application have received contact alerts for these notifications. This case reinforces the importance of our shared vigilance against Covid-19 and the steps we must all take to stop the spread of the virus. “
The ministry also announced Thursday that there is a new case of managed isolation.
They arrived on November 14 from the UK, via the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, and tested positive around day 12 of their stay.
The person has now also been transferred to Jet Park.
On Wednesday, eight new cases of Covid-19 were announced. All were in controlled isolation.
In total, there are 60 active cases of the virus in New Zealand.
