Covid 19 coronavirus: 50-year-old man dies in Auckland

A man in his 50s died today at Middlemore Hospital, the Health Ministry has confirmed.

He is the youngest person to die from the virus in New Zealand and the first Covid-related death here since May 28.

It is also the first death of the Auckland group, of which 152 people are linked.

The total number of Covid-19 related deaths in New Zealand is now 23.

Newshub reported that the dead man is believed to be the father of four and worked at Mt Wellington Coolstore Americold, with the man being the group’s index case.

The Herald has contacted the management of the refrigeration store for comment.

He was originally from Tokoroa and recently returned to Waikato City to see whanau, unaware that he had the virus.

The man was able to make video calls to his family in the days leading up to his tragic death.

He was admitted to Middlemore Hospital through an emergency department from quarantine and was later treated in the intensive care unit.

The Health Ministry said in a statement that the man’s family was regularly informed about the situation.

The hospital facilitated contact using virtual technologies and his wife and son were able to visit him wearing full PPE.

“Our thoughts are with his family and community in this time of loss and grief,” said Chief Health Officer Dr. Ashley Bloomfield.

“We have always recognized that more Covid-19 related deaths were possible.

“Although the health system has done and will continue to do everything possible to prevent them, this can be a very difficult virus to treat and from which some people must recover.

“Today’s news reinforces the importance of our shared vigilance against Covid-19, the serious consequences that the virus can bring, and the steps we must all take to stop the spread, break any chain of transmission, and prevent deaths.”

The man’s wife expressed the family’s gratitude to the Middlemore Hospital staff for their care and compassion.

The man is the first Covid-19-related death at the Manukau County Board of Health.

The ages of the other 22 Covid-19-related deaths in New Zealand are: three people in their 60s, seven in their 70s, seven in their 80s, and five in their 90s.

The man is the first to die within the Manukau County Board of Health District. There have been 12 fatalities at the Canterbury DHB, two at the Capital and Coast DHB, two at the Southern DHB, four at the Waitematā DHB, one at the Waikato DHB, and one at the West Coast DHB.

Dr. Dougal Sutherland, a clinical psychologist at Victoria University of Wellington and Umbrella Health, said the news of the death tonight “will likely reinforce the anxiety that many continue to experience around the virus.”

“Kiwis have gone into hiding quickly and many parents in Auckland have been reluctant to allow their children to return to school. The news of today’s death will certainly cement these decisions.

“A death is a sobering and tragic event, once again highlighting the very real health concerns facing our country, perhaps highlighting priorities such as health over economic concerns. Hopefully, today’s news can also help. to remind those outside Auckland, who may have been wondering about the need for continued restrictions, that our battle with this virus remains very real. “

The Prime Minister announced today that New Zealand will remain at Alert Level 2 and Auckland at Alert Level 2.5 for at least 10 more days.

The Cabinet has decided to maintain the current alert levels and will review them again on Monday, September 14, when it will decide whether to adjust them at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16.

It came when Bloomfield revealed five new cases of Covid-19. Three are in the community and two are in managed isolation.

All three cases in the community are linked to the Mt Roskill Evangelical Church group, which is linked to the broader Auckland August group.

The source of the August Auckland cluster, which was first announced on August 11, remains unknown.

Since then, Ministry of Health contact tracing has identified 3,191 close case contacts, of which 3,136 have been contacted and are self-isolating.