Second managed isolation worker tests positive for Covid-19 in Christchurch

November 3, 2020

The Ministry of Health says they are a close contact of the first health worker who tested positive.

A second managed isolation worker has tested positive for Covid-19 in Christchurch.

The Ministry of Health confirmed the news this evening, saying they are a close contact of the first health worker who tested positive yesterday.

As the person works at the facility and is not a returnee they are treated as a community case.

"Both this case, and the one reported on Monday, came into contact with the international mariners in the course of their duties, including some of the 31 mariners who have tested positive to Covid-19 and who remain in quarantine," the Ministry of Health says in a statement.

"The person is now in isolation at home and transfer is being arranged to a managed isolation facility.

"The initial assessment is that there are only two close contacts of this current case, both household contacts, both are now being tested and both are in isolation at home."

Due to this, the incident is "currently well contained" the Ministry states.

This means a rise in alert levels for Christchurch is not currently being looked at by health officials. Results of genomic sequencing from yesterday's case are expected.

Earlier today four new cases were announced in New Zealand's managed isolation and quarantine facilities.

More than 30 Russian and Ukrainian fishermen staying at the isolation facility have the virus.

They include a person who arrived from Kabul via Dubai. That person tested positive around day 12.

Another arrived in New Zealand on October 21 from London via Doha and Brisbane. They also tested positive around day 12.

One of the new cases arrived from the United States on October 29 via Sydney. They tested positive around day three.

The final new imported case arrived from the United States via Doha and Brisbane. They tested positive around day three.

All four new imported cases are in quarantine in Auckland.

A pop-up testing centre will open tomorrow from 11:30am to 4:30pm in The Princess Margaret Hospital car park on 95 Cashmere Rd.

"Anyone who is concerned about the recently reported positive cases in Christchurch and thinks they may have been a contact of a case is welcome to attend – no appointment necessary and testing is free for everyone," community based testing clinical leader Dr Hannah Gordon said. 

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