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An Air New Zealand crew member who tested positive for Covid-19 is likely to have contracted the virus in the United States.
The Health Ministry said early genomic testing found no link between the positive case and the existing cases in New Zealand.
Comparison with international samples suggested it originated in the United States, the ministry said today.
The exact source of the positive case has yet to be confirmed and the ministry’s investigation is ongoing.
The crew member arrived in New Zealand on December 9 on a flight from the United States.
They tested positive as part of the mandatory tests within 48 hours of their return from the country.
The ministry said Air New Zealand had ensured that the person had met all requirements for the crew flying to and from the US, and the risk to the general public was considered low.
While abroad, the aircrew is required by law to wear protective equipment while in direct contact with passengers or when outside the aircraft or their accommodation.
They must travel directly to their accommodation and cannot leave except in an emergency.
Aircrew flying on “high risk” routes, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, must also comply with legal requirements when returning to New Zealand, including a mandatory medical examination and Covid-19 test within 48 hours. after arrival.
They do not have to go into controlled isolation, but must isolate themselves until they produce a negative test.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said this afternoon that the positive case showed the system was working.
“We are seeing evidence of protective measures that have bought a job with this latest Air New Zealand crew member.
“We know that there is an additional risk to people coming and going who are part of a flight crew,” he said.
“We can’t have them in two weeks of isolation, or we would never have planes coming and going. It just wouldn’t be practical.
“This person has been in isolation since he returned, he was tested as expected [and] they don’t show any symptoms at this time.
“All the other crew members tested negative, so there is no risk of it spreading in the community.”
All other crew members have tested negative and are in isolation.
Three new cases
The ministry also confirmed today three new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand, all in controlled isolation.
There are no new community cases.
Two of the new cases came from the United States and the other from the United Kingdom. All have been transferred to the Jet Park quarantine facility in Auckland.
A previously reported case has recovered, so the total number of active cases in New Zealand is now 56.
Yesterday there were 4245 tests.
Previous cases
It was announced yesterday that the crew member arrived in New Zealand on December 9 on a flight from the United States.
They tested positive as part of the mandatory tests within 48 hours of their return from the United States.
The ministry said Air New Zealand had assured it that the person had met all requirements for the crew flying to and from the US, and that the risk to the general public was considered low.
While genome sequencing has not been finalized, early results showed no link between the crew member’s test and existing cases in New Zealand. Comparison with international samples suggests it originated in the United States, the ministry said.
All other members of the crew had tested negative and were in isolation.
The total number of confirmed cases in New Zealand was 1,740.
Six new cases of Covid-19 in managed isolation were announced on Friday.
At that time, there were no community cases and the total number of New Zealand cases was 57.
Of the six new cases, five are active and one was historic:
• One case arrived in New Zealand on November 26, originating from South Africa via the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. This person was examined because he was in a travel bubble with two confirmed cases and is in the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived in New Zealand on December 1, from Sweden via Qatar and Australia. This person was tested because he was in a travel bubble with two confirmed cases and is in the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived in New Zealand on December 3, from the United Kingdom via the United Arab Emirates. This person was examined because he was in a travel bubble with a confirmed case and is in the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived on December 3 from the UK via the United Arab Emirates. This person tested positive for routine tests around day 3 and was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived on December 3 from the United Arab Emirates. This person was examined because he was in a travel bubble with a confirmed case and is in the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived in New Zealand on 7 December, from the UK via Singapore, and was tested on arrival because of symptoms. Serological tests revealed that this case is historical and therefore not infectious. This person is in a managed isolation and quarantine facility in Christchurch.
Starting this week, the frequency of updates has been reduced to four times a week.
New Zealand had its first confirmed case of Covid-19 on February 28, and since March 3, the Ministry of Health has provided daily updates.
Last Monday, the ministry announced that it would reduce the frequency of updates to four times a week.
Updates are now scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
No new cases have been reported in the community since November 21, when the last case linked to the Auckland Defense Forces group was reported. That person has now tested negative and there are now no active cases listed in the community.
