Preliminary results from genome sequencing of Auckland's new Covid-19 community case suggest it is connected to Defence Force workers who contracted coronavirus.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told TVNZ1's Breakfast more information will be released later this morning, where officials hope to confirm her link to the Defence Force cluster. The preliminary results came in last night.
Yesterday, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield announced a new community case of the virus in Auckland. It's still not confirmed how the woman in her twenties - who works and lives in the CBD - contracted the virus.
Yesterday Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said she became symptomatic on Monday and was tested on Tuesday.
However, while she was awaiting her test result and was told to isolate, the case attempted to call in sick to work, but after speaking with her manager it was decided she would go into work but wear a mask.
She works at the A-Z fashion store on High Street in Auckland's CBD. She also got several takeaways, visited a department store and took Uber rides in the city.
Hipkins this morning said he was waiting for officials to confirm her link to the Defence Force cluster.
"That would be very helpful if we could confirm that later on today, so that's only preliminary at this point," he said.
Also yesterday, a third person was linked to the November quarantine cluster Cases A, B and C - all NZDF employees.
This latest infected person - identified as Case C - dined at a central Wellington restaurant with a person (Case B) who contracted Covid-19 from an enlisted colleague in Auckland who worked at a managed isolation facility (Case A).
Hipkins said if it is confirmed the AUT student is connected to the three cases officials would then work to figure out how and where she contracted the virus.
"We've been working really hard over the last few months since the Auckland outbreak that we dealt with in August to get our case investigation, of contact tracing and our testing regime as comprehensive and as tight as we possibly can because that's how we avoid escalation through the alert levels if we don't need to.
"If we can contain a case very quickly, and at the moment everybody's working around the clock to do that, then that's how we avoid to have more punitive restrictions."
Hipkins also said there had been "conflicting reports" over whether or not the AUT student, who tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday, was asked to work while awaiting her test result.
The woman told case investigators she called in sick but was told to come in wearing a mask, however media have reported that her manager disputes the allegation.
"Ultimately I'm not in a position to judge that. What I do know is that while she was at work she was wearing a mask and trying to do the right thing," Hipkins said.
"She's provided very good information about her movements, about the people she's been in contact with, she has been wearing a mask whenever she's been out and about."
When asked to clarify if that included in Uber rides, while shopping and out for meals, Hipkins said "my understanding is that she has been wearing a mask extensively".
"I think before, there's some timing questions here about when exactly she started to wear a mask, but my understanding is certainly since the test she had been wearing a mask whenever coming into contact with others."
Hipkins also reiterated that there was financial support available to employers, and urged them to use it and support workers having to self-isolate.
He also this morning told RNZ's Morning Report that over the coming days the Government would look into making masks mandatory.
However he also told Breakfast "we are not a police state" when asked if people could be forced to scan the app before purchasing a product.
"We rely on good will here. If you take a punitive approach, as other countries have tried, and you look at other counties that have tried, it hasn't worked," he said.
"One of the reasons our approach in New Zealand has worked is because we've got the good will of people behind us."
Hipkins warned, though, that that good will cannot lead to complacency. He continued pleas to the public to keep up basic hygiene, to stay home if sick and keep using the Covid Tracer App.
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