Covid 19 coronavirus: 4 cases in controlled isolation; 1 historical case investigated

There are four new cases of Covid-19 in managed isolation and a suspicious historical case is being investigated.

The Health Ministry said it had been investigating the historic case since this morning after the person gave a “weak positive result.”

This individual is a recent returnee from the United States and completed his full 14 days in a managed isolation facility (MIQ) in September.

“They were asymptomatic during their time at MIQ and gave two negative tests during this time. They were discharged from MIQ on September 21,” the ministry said.

“After feeling unwell this week, they sought medical attention. They were subsequently tested for Covid-19, which came back a weak positive, indicating an old infection. We have done more tests today to fully confirm it is a historical infection, “he added. said the ministry.

“We are taking precautionary measures as we always do in these cases and the person has been transferred to an MIQ facility in Wellington. As we have seen with other cases, people can return weak positive tests if they have been infected earlier in the year. This case follows a typical pattern of what we have seen in other historical cases.
These cases can arise after the person has a respiratory illness that is not Covid-19, such as a cold or influenza, “the ministry said.

Today’s Imported Cases

The first imported case arrived from the Philippines via Hong Kong on October 3 and was transferred to a managed isolation facility in Auckland.

They tested positive as part of routine testing on the 12th and were transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

The second imported case arrived from Peru via Mexico and the United States on October 10 and was transferred to a managed isolation facility in Christchurch. They tested positive as part of routine testing on day 3.

The third and fourth imported cases arrived from Hong Kong on October 11 and were taken to a managed isolation facility in Auckland. They tested positive as part of routine testing on day 3 and were transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

Yesterday there were no new cases in the community, however, there were two cases that tested positive in controlled isolation.

It comes as new data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment shows that only 48 individuals or families have paid for managed isolation and quarantine stays.

Recent returnees have reimbursed more than $ 150,000 through October 4, all of which have paid within 90 days of receipt of the invoice.

A total of 826 invoices had been issued for the same date, as well as 609 additional waivers since the charges were introduced on August 11.

The charge for a single person in a room is $ 3,100. Additional adults or children sharing the room pay $ 950 and $ 475 respectively, including GST.

Meanwhile, there is excitement at Auckland Airport, as people had their first opportunity to travel unquarantined to Australia since the Covid 19 outbreak in March.

Starting today, New South Wales and the Northern Territory will allow New Zealanders to enter without self-quarantine, but those who return will have to go through quarantine.

Most of the people booked on the first flight leaving at mid-morning have one-way tickets. About 200 people were expected to board this morning.

Elsewhere, there are fears that Europe is running out of time to control the coronavirus resurgence.

Infections are reaching daily record levels in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and Italy.

France imposed a 9 p.m. curfew in many of its largest cities and Londoners faced new travel restrictions as governments imposed increasingly harsh measures.

Newly confirmed cases have risen across Europe in recent weeks as fall begins, prompting authorities to revert to measures that had been relaxed over the summer.

Yesterday’s cases

The first imported case arrived on October 9 from India via Dubai and was taken to a managed isolation facility in Hamilton. They tested positive as part of routine testing on the third day and were transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

The second imported case arrived on October 12 from San Francisco, USA, and was transferred to a managed isolation facility in Christchurch. They were tested after showing symptoms of Covid-19.

Returnees criticize ‘unacceptable’ waste of isolation meals

People in controlled isolation fear they are drowning the country’s landfills with roughly 100,000 take-out containers, bottles and cutlery each week.

Garbage is not recycled from the rooms of the 32 border hotels in the country, to reduce waste management and the possible spread of Covid-19.

With an average of around 5,000 people in isolation administered each day, roughly 100,000 meals of waste are dumped into landfills each week.

More than 60,000 people have passed through hotels managed isolation and quarantine since March 26, bringing an estimated 2.5 million meals to waste.

Pandemic claims a Swiss-based Kiwi wine critic

A New Zealand woman who lived and worked in Switzerland for more than a decade died of Covid-19.

Wine critic Nina Bobillier, who had part Swiss and part New Zealand heritage, succumbed to the deadly infection in less than 15 days on Monday, according to tributes posted online.

His devastated New Zealand-based family have spoken of their shock and appreciation for the love and support they receive from friends around the world.

There would be a funeral in Switzerland and a celebration of his life in New Zealand in the coming weeks.

– Additional RNZ reports.