Coronavirus: Third case confirmed in New Zealand

Publish Date
Thursday, 5 March 2020, 8:04AM

A third case of coronavirus has been confirmed in New Zealand.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told RNZ he had received a report last night of a third positive test of Covid-19.

Bloomfield confirmed that the third case was a man in Auckland in his 40s.

He has close family members who have returned to New Zealand after spending time in Iran recently.

Two schools, Auckland Grammar and Ormiston Junior College, have been notified as there is a family member at each of those schools.

The students who attend these schools are now at home in isolation. They have no symptoms.

There is no risk to students or staff in either of the schools.

The travelling family member believed to have passed the virus to the Auckland man was a "probable" case but was no longer showing any symptoms, Bloomfield said.

It was "very likely" this person did, in fact, have coronavirus before recovering, but the Ministry will not be retesting them.

In terms of the numbers at this stage, there are three people confirmed with Coronavirus, with a fourth probable case.

The case was reported to the Ministry at 6pm last night.

The case comes just one day after a woman in her 30s was confirmed to have the virus after arriving back in New Zealand on February 26 from northern Italy, where there is an outbreak.

That woman then took two domestic flights between Palmerston North and Auckland on March 2.

She also visited two medical centres before being diagnosed. Health authorities are contact tracing for the woman, who is in self isolation.

Her partner is also in self-isolation is displaying symptoms - his test for the virus is expected back later today.

READ MORE:
• Pupils at Prince George and Princess Charlotte's school in isolation over coronavirus fears

The first case was confirmed on Friday February 28 after a person in their 60s returned to New Zealand from Tehran via Bali. They felt unwell and wore a mask on their flight and are still recovering in hospital.

He said the chance of wide-spread community outbreak remains low.

Bloomfield said the man does not require hospital level care, and is in self-isolation.

The man's family remains in self-isolation too. The man's partner, who has been unwell, is also being tested.

The man himself has not travelled to Iran – but his family did.

The family was on flight QR 0920 from Doha departed 22 February, arrived Auckland 23 February.

In addition to proactive tracing of close contacts on this flight by public health staff, contact will be made with everyone on the flight to provide relevant information. A reminder: close contacts are people who were in the same row of seats, the two rows in front and the two rows behind.

Healthline knows the seat numbers and will be able to advise anyone on the flight, whether they are considered a close or casual contact.

Anyone who was on this flight and is concerned or would like information should contact the Healthline number 0800 358 5453. Interpreters are available.

 

This article was originally published on NZ Herald and is republished here with permission.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you