Thread by @covid19nz

An update on our Public Health Response

We are taking a rapid response to break the chain of transmission through contact tracing, testing and gathering of information.

The family are still in strict self-isolation at home and we are working with them on whether all or some of them might go into a quarantine facility in Auckland.

Following further interviews with the people who have tested positive, it has been revealed that one of the cases, a woman in her 20s, travelled to Rotorua on Saturday whilst she was symptomatic.

We’re working with urgency to find out what places this woman might have visited in Rotorua over the weekend. People in Rotorua and around the country should be vigilant and seek advice if they have any symptoms. There are currently testing sites in Rotorua and in Taupo.

In Rotorua the testing site is on Vaughn Road.

There will be an additional pop up testing centre opening tomorrow and that site will be announced for locals.

Just remember that this virus does not discriminate. There is no shame and stigma on having contracted it.

We want to find the virus and we will support anyone who has it to ensure their health and well being are well looked after and we stop the spread in the community.

None of our active cases requires hospital-level care.

We know that this has caused alarm and anxiety for many of us. If we all do our bit, we will get through this.

We are working hard to put the pieces of the puzzle to find out how this family got infected.

Work is progressing to follow their movements and contact trace anyone who may have had contact with the family who has tested positive. We are testing all close and casual contacts of the people who have tested positive.

None of the workplaces where there is a risk are public- facing and all appropriate health actions are being taken. All the staff in the first case’s workplaces are considered close contacts. That’s a total of 130 people.

The person only has close contact in a small team but we are treating everyone as close contacts. It has been shut down and everyone is being tested. There are 3 of the husband’s colleagues who are being tested and isolated. Their households are also in isolation.

That workplace is in 4 sites around Auckland, with a total of about 160 staff. They are all shut down now and everyone is being followed up and tested.

We are also doing genome sequencing on all those who have tested positive and our recent cases in managed isolation and quarantine. This will help us track the possible source of the virus.

Our national contact tracing centre has 140 people on standby to support Auckland regional public health. Healthline has been very busy as we anticipated with high volumes of calls. They have an extra 60 staff already and we will be increasing that.

We’re prepared to test thousands of people in the coming days. Staff from DHBS are being redeployed to testing centres both in the community and to do testing in Managed Isolation and Quarantine facilities.

We have stock of more than 270,000 tests available across the country with more stock coming in at all times. We can process more than 12,000 tests per day and we are looking to increase this over the next few days.

The best thing we can do now is to comply with key public health measures around hand hygiene and physical distancing. We are also recommending the use of face coverings, particularly in the Auckland region.

On testing in Auckland

We ask that if you have any symptoms or if it is recommended that you get tested, please get tested.

If you have no symptoms, if you don’t work at the border or MIQ and you’re feeling well, then please comply with the level restrictions.

Aged care

We must take extra precaution to look after our most vulnerable people in aged care.

From midday today, all aged care facilities throughout New Zealand will close their doors to everyone but staff and essential deliveries from noon today.

We’re working with the sector to ensure that staff don’t work across multiple sites and facilities

We realise how difficult this will be for those who have loved ones living in these facilities but situations overseas have taught us that this is the safest approach at this stage

Details around alert levels are available on our website covid19.govt.nz. Countdown and Foodstuffs have a supply of masks for sale.

We are also releasing 5 million masks from our central supply to support distribution in areas where they are needed.

We are also looking at provision or masks and food parcels via social services for those who may be more vulnerable.

You can fashion your own face covering if needed.

We have mandated mask use in one environment at this stage - that is for flights leaving Auckland. Air NZ will be providing these on departures. You are able to depart Auckland if you are going to your place of residence.

The Prime Minister and the Director-General will have another media conference at 4pm today. #covid19nz #covid19