There is a new community case of Covid 19, the Ministry of Health has confirmed.
n this afternoon's 1pm press conference, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says the new community case is a student a Papatoetoe High School.
The person is considered a casual plus contact who had been advised to self-isolate and get tested, the ministry said in a statement earlier today.
Hipkins said the student had not returned to school on Monday.
He said the case was picked up by testing done of all students and staff before they were able to return to school.
On its Facebook page, Papatoetoe High School said it would begin re-testing of staff and students before they leave school this afternoon.
The school said more information will be emailed this afternoon around additional testing of households.
Hipkins said all students are being asked to be retested, as well as some of their household members.
Household members getting a second test were being asked to go to the community testing station.
Hipkins said an 0800 number had been set up to provide support to the school community.
Wastewater testing continues to show negative results in the Papatoetoe area, he said.
The latest positive case brings this cluster to nine, Hipkins said.
"Catching these cases through ongoing testing is evident of the system working as intended."
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said six people were in the household bubble of the latest case.
He said the sibling of the person is also a student at the school.
Meanwhile, Auckland has joined the rest of New Zealand and is now at alert level 1.
However, face coverings are mandatory on public transport at levels 1 and 2.
More to come...
Leave a Comment