A further case of Covid-19 is under investigation following a report last night (Monday March 22) of a case of the virus in a border worker.

The Ministry of Health announced a new Covid-19 case linked to the border after a worker at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland returned a positive result yesterday evening after routine testing the day before.

The person lives in a household of five. Rapid testing of the family was carried out last night, and an adult household member has returned a weak positive test result which is under investigation with testing being repeated today.

Other members of the household have all returned negative tests.

Whole genome sequencing of the original case and the under investigation household contact are underway, and results should be available later today. The whole genome sequencing results will help the Ministry to determine whether the border worker case is connected to one of the recent positive cases of returnees at the Grand Millennium.

The worker’s last negative fortnightly surveillance swab was taken on March 4 and they had received both doses of the Pfizer/Biotech vaccine having their first dose on February 23 and their second on March 16, as part of the border worker vaccination programme.

The Ministry of Health said in a statement there is good evidence showing the vaccine is effective at preventing infection; for preventing severe disease if the vaccinated person does still get the disease; and emerging evidence for preventing transmission of the virus.

“Anyone who is fully vaccinated – who has had two doses, three weeks apart, and then at least seven days after their second dose – would be expected to have a high level of protection from Covid-19,” the Ministry said.

It is possible this worker contracted Covid-19 before the vaccination could take full effect.

There are also three new positive cases of Covid-19 to report in managed isolation and one historical case to report. 

The number of previously reported cases that have now recovered is one. The total number of active cases in New Zealand today is 68.

PHOTO: Supplied