Covid 19 coronavirus: no new cases in the community, one in MIQ

There is a new case of Covid-19 in managed isolation and no new cases have been found in the community.

Of the 125 contacts in the Valentine’s Day group, there are still three test results pending; all of these people are linked to the location of the first family’s medical clinic of interest.

The Health Ministry said this was considered a “low risk” exposure event.

In addition to the cases reported last week, all other close contacts tested negative.

There are now 1,413 “chance plus” contacts identified at Papatoetoe High School, where two students tested positive, and there are only 17 tests pending.

“We remind all students and school staff to stay home and get screened if they haven’t already done so,” the Health Ministry said.

“The school is expected to return on Monday, February 22. Close contacts at the school will not be able to return until public health advises them that they can.”

There are still 55 pending tests of the 444 people who work at LSG Sky Chefs, where one of the first cases works, but the nine people who work in the laundry with it were negative.

There are still nine open test centers in Auckland. They are at Takanini, Wiri, Otara, Botany, Balmoral, New Lynn, Henderson, and Northcote, as well as on the dedicated testing site at Papatoetoe High School.

On Saturday, 7,392 tests were processed across the country.

The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 51 and because a previous case was reclassified as under investigation, the total number of confirmed cases remains in 1994.

The Health Ministry said it was “really encouraging” to see Covid Tracer scan numbers remain high with more than 1.7 million scans recorded between 24 hours and 1:00 pm Friday, averaging 1,518,589 scans. made every day this week.

“Please keep up the good work and keep using the Covid Tracer app to keep track of where you’ve been. Also keep scanning QR codes wherever you go and turn on Bluetooth tracking in the app panel if you haven’t already. has done done, “said the Ministry of Health.

The new case in controlled isolation flew through Singapore and tested positive on the third day. The country from which they flew has yet to be established.

The government will update New Zealand’s alert levels tomorrow, determining whether Auckland joins the rest of the country at level one.

Auckland level three lockdown

Auckland was mired in a heavy 72-hour lockdown last Sunday night after three people from one family tested positive. The lockdown was lifted Thursday morning after health officials deemed the outbreak well contained.

The mother who works at LSG Sky Chefs handles clothing for international flights, but the source of the infection is still unknown, and the likelihood of her being infected from a surface is considered “highly unlikely.”

The woman’s daughter also tested positive and was later found to have passed the virus on to her classmate at Papatoetoe High School, who in turn passed it on to his family.

Everyone at Papatoetoe High School has been tested and so far all results have been negative.

The school is scheduled to reopen tomorrow, but all staff and students need a negative test result before returning.

Vaccines

The vaccination campaign began this week with 100 vaccinators receiving injections on Friday and workers at the Jet Park quarantine facility receiving theirs yesterday.

Lynette Faiva, the first MIQ worker to be vaccinated, said the vaccine was nothing to fear.

“I didn’t feel anything. It was like a little pinprick. I’m going to tell you that it doesn’t hurt and it was very easy,” Faiva said.

She said it was a privilege to be the first to get the vaccine and she was grateful for the opportunity.

“It was about providing another layer of protection.”

Approximately 12,000 border and MIQ workers will be vaccinated over the next several weeks before their domestic contacts and then the rest of the general public.

Details of the broader public rollout, which will begin in the second half of the year, are yet to be finalized.

Chief Health Officer Dr. Ashley Bloomfield said yesterday’s vaccinations marked an important step forward in the fight against Covid-19.

“A milestone that protects those most at risk of contracting the virus and helps reduce the risk of spread to the community.”

Bloomfield said New Zealanders must remember that this pandemic is the most significant global public health challenge in a century and managing it will require all of our efforts for some time to come.