The Ministry of Health has provided more information about the new community case of COVID-19 reported yesterday evening (Monday November 2).

The new case in Christchurch is related to managed isolation and was subsequently detected in the community.

The case is a member of the health team working at the Sudima Christchurch Airport managed isolation facility where international mariners are in managed isolation and quarantine.

The individual was tested as part of the routine testing for staff in the facility and returned a negative test on Thursday October 29. On Saturday they developed symptoms and sought a further test on Sunday. A positive result was received on Monday.

The person is now in isolation, as is their one household contact, a student at Cashmere High School.

Other staff at the isolation facility who may have worked relevant shifts are also in the process of being contacted and tested as appropriate, if not already tested through routine testing.

Public health staff in Christchurch are continuing to work with staff at the Countdown on Colombo St which the person visited. The supermarket has already undergone deep cleaning and video footage will continue to be reviewed to identify if there were any close contacts during the person’s visit. 

A push notification has been sent to those who logged on with the COVID Tracer app at the same time as this person visited the supermarket. This is an important reminder for people to keep using the app, director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said.

At this time, no other areas of concern have been identified which would require public notifications, he said.

The positive test for this staff member also means that first of the international mariners, due to complete their managed isolation this morning, have had their stay extended for at least 24 hours as an additional precautionary measure.

Genome sequencing of eight international mariners who have tested positive for COVID-19 has shown there are three different lineages found in this group.

There are also four new cases of COVID-19 to report in isolation, all of which are in quarantine at the Auckland facility.

Eleven cases are now considered recovered, meaning New Zealand’s total number of active cases is 75.

The total number of confirmed cases is now 1,612.