Covid 19 coronavirus: 11 new cases, all in controlled isolation

There are 11 new cases of Covid-19 cases, all from managed isolation. There are no new cases in the community.

Five of these cases are part of the day 6 trials of the international fishing crew in Christchurch.

Of the other cases currently detected in controlled isolation, one involves a family group of two who came from Amsterdam via Singapore. The other cases involve two newcomers from the United Kingdom and one who arrived from the United Arab Emirates.

All six cases tested positive around day 3, as part of our standard border testing protocols and are now in quarantine.

There are 74 active cases in New Zealand and the total number of local cases since the pandemic began is 1,578.

Tests

Auckland’s testing centers are seeing steady demand so far with plenty of capacity in the system, says the Ministry of Health.

“A community testing center in Henderson started taking samples early as there were people waiting for it to open. There are seven community testing centers open: Northcote Community Testing Center, Northcare Accident and Medical , Whânau House in Henderson, the Western Springs Community Testing Center, the Whânau Ora Community Clinic in Wiri, the Otara Community Testing Center and the North Harbor Stadium parking lot in Albany, “says the Ministry.

Yesterday’s cases

Eight cases were detected in managed isolation facilities, seven of which involve the fishing crew at the Christchurch facility.

The other case in controlled isolation arrived from Iran via Dubai on October 19. They tested positive on the third day and are now in the Auckland quarantine facility.

Elsewhere, the United States has set a new record for the highest number of new Covid-19 infections in a single day.

The United States reported 77,640 new cases Thursday, according to NBC News, beating its previous record of 75,723 set on July 29.

It also recorded another 921 deaths, bringing the total death toll to more than 220,000.

Chief Health Officer Ashley Bloomfield said yesterday that he was comfortable that Level 1 was the correct setting and that the Auckland group is well contained.

Health Minister Chris Hipkins said at this point the group was not causing him elevated levels of anxiety “just the usual levels of anxiety.”

There will be a “very intense” campaign for the next 72 hours to encourage the public to use the app.

“The more we scan, the safer we are,” said Bloomfield.

Community testing during the work weekend

Hipkins said it was “imperative” that people with symptoms get screened quickly. Auckland will have seven community centers open over the long weekend.

Bloomfield thanked New Zealanders, especially Aucklanders, “for doing the right thing” as it would help their families and communities stay safe.

Hipkins asked any sick person to stay home, call Healthline, and get tested.

He also asked people to use the Covid Tracer app and cover their faces in places where physical distance was not possible, such as on public transport or airplanes.

“We know how to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in New Zealand – we have done it many times.”

The Naval Engineers Group

The marine employee pool has grown to include three other positive cases and has businesses across Auckland struggling.

A marine engineer is believed to have captured Covid-19 while working on a foreign ship before passing it on to two colleagues.

A family contact of one of the cases, it is not clear who, also tested positive and was one of the nine new cases of Covid-19 yesterday.

The 27-year-old marine engineer is an electronics technician known to work at Albany-based Wright Technologies.

According to experts, he is the “hero” who could have saved the country from a new community outbreak by acting swiftly.

The man worked on a Liberian-flagged freighter called Sofrana Surville, which arrived in Auckland ports just before noon on Monday, October 12.

He had sailed from Papua New Guinea, to the Solomon Islands, to Brisbane, to Tauranga and then to Auckland.

On Tuesday, October 13, the engineer, dressed in a mask and gloves, boarded the Sofrana Surville and went to work.

(edited)