Covid-19 scare: Napier childcare center and shipping all clear

A Napier-based child care center remains open as health authorities continue to investigate a child who recently tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival in Japan, despite testing negative for the virus in New Zealand.

Health Director General Ashley Bloomfield said it was believed to be a “historical false positive case” and there was “very low risk” to the public.

The entire family was tested before leaving New Zealand and tested negative with only the child testing positive upon arrival in Japan.

The boy was on an Air New Zealand flight from Napier to Auckland (flight NZ5018) on October 22 and went to a child care center in Napier.

The local health unit has contacted the child care center and health authorities were working with their Japanese counterparts to conduct a second test while the family remains in controlled isolation there.

Those connected to the child care center or on the flight should remain vigilant to monitor their health for symptoms, Bloomfield said.

Meanwhile, the logging ship Ken Rei, previously denied entry to the Napier port due to ties to a port worker who tested positive for Covid-19, also docked Tuesday with Bloomfield confirming that the crew would not leave. the ship while in port.

He said all the sailors had tested negative for Covid-19 and were in a “good mood.”

The bulk carrier docked at 6 am Tuesday to pick up “fresh cargo,” a Napier port spokesman said.

“They have come to collect the logs. There is new cargo, since the previous cargo had been taken.”

The ship was due to dock at the port on October 18, but was barred from entering after it was identified that it had 21 close contacts of the port worker who tested positive for Covid-19 on October 16.

A marine electronics engineer from Auckland, he had worked on the Ken Rei and another ship, raising concerns about a possible transmission risk.

Napier Port determined that the best precaution for its community was to keep the ship anchored offshore during a 14-day isolation period, which was now complete.

A medical team, The Doctors, based in Napier, was tasked with flying to the ship last Thursday to conduct Covid-19 tests of the crew and collect test swabs, all of which came back negative.

Rachel Eyre, a medical health officer, said the move was a private agreement between the two organizations and that the DHB or the Health Ministry had not required that they collect the swabs.

However, Dr. Eyre said that from a public health intelligence perspective, the results would be useful information.

The Ministry of Health had also reported that the ship could safely dock in any New Zealand port following Covid-19 guidelines.

The marine pilots would use full personal protective equipment, social distancing and follow all protocols when aboard the ship until Thursday morning, when it is expected to depart for Tauranga.

The Hawke’s Bay District Board of Health has been contacted for further comment.