Covid 19 coronavirus: new community case – Ashley Bloomfield

There is a new community case of Covid-19, says Chief Health Officer Ashley Bloomfield.

The man, an Auckland dockworker who went to New Plymouth for work this week, tested positive on October 16. The man requested a test the day he developed symptoms.

The man has been transferred to the Jet Park quarantine facility, along with some close contacts, he said.

“We have been able to move quickly,” Bloomfield said.

“This is a case that shows that our systems … are working … we have a clear line of investigation,” says Bloomfield.

The case has been caught early, Bloomfield said.

“We all have to continue to play our role.”

The man was potentially infectious on October 14 and 15.

Trip to New Plymouth

On Wednesday October 14 he was in New Plymouth working on a ship in port.

The rooms you stayed in in New Plymouth at two different establishments have been thoroughly cleaned.

On Wednesday he traveled back to Auckland and on Thursday he was home.

He drove to New Plymouth alone. That meant there were a limited number of close contacts.

He drove to New Plymouth on Tuesday, October 13 and checked into a motel. I worked on the ship on Wednesday, checked into a different accommodation but then decided to return to Auckland on Wednesday night.

There is a very good explanation for where the likely source of infection is, says Bloomfield.

Household contacts in isolation

Four of your household contacts are isolated. Household contacts have been tested. He was not in Auckland ports while he was infected.

Close contacts from his work there are being analyzed, mostly people on the ship he worked on.

The man wore masks and gloves while working and was examined within hours of developing symptoms on October 16.

The only people he interacts with at the port are security and the people on the ship, Bloomfield said.

The man had previously tested negative on October 2, Bloomfield said.

In summary, Bloomfield said the case showed that the measures were working well to hedge any possibility of further spread.

“I know the resurgence … can be unsettling,” he said.

“We have to remain vigilant.”

Covid-19 will not go away anytime soon, Bloomfield said.

The Health Ministry recommends that people continue to wear masks on public transport, he said.

Bloomfield was asked why people had not been alerted to this community case earlier. He said once the man had symptoms on Friday morning, he was tested and self-isolated, and the previous two days he hadn’t been away from home.

Bloomfield contacted the Health Minister shortly after 6pm yesterday.

“Everyone who needed to know was informed, identified, isolated, and screened.

Man’s work made him high risk: he boarded ships, often for several hours.
He works in electronic maintenance.

Once the man had symptoms, he was tested and isolated, Bloomfield said. There are a very limited number of close contacts.

Appropriate actions were taken “once the man developed symptoms.

“The public must be assured that the measures around our ports are now very strict … including PPE and regular testing regimes,” Bloomfield said.

The man had four negative tests as part of regular screening tests, with another due on Friday.

“We are constantly watching, learning, and strengthening our border measures,” said Bloomfield.

Both the crew and the people boarding the boats must wear PPE, he said.

“In this case, we found a very early case … we were able to identify and isolate all close contacts in a matter of hours.”

When asked if there were any regional lockdown considerations, including New Plymouth, Bloomfield said no.

The risk to people in New Plymouth is very low, and the man has limited interaction with people at the motel he stayed at and at the port.

Cases imported today

There are also two imported cases, in managed isolation facilities. And a new historical case: the case mentioned on Friday

That landmark case involves a person who has now recovered and was infected abroad.

One of the cases reported yesterday has been recategorized as investigated, to see if it is its history.

It occurs when the NZ Herald obtained a letter from the Auckland Regional Public Health Service reporting that a person had been diagnosed with a notifiable infectious disease.

The letter says that another person is considered a close contact and may become infectious to others.

He advises the recipient of the letter that this close contact should be isolated at home until he receives an authorization letter.

The Health Ministry refuses to comment or confirm any details.

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service said it would not comment until after the ministry’s press conference.