There is one new case of COVID-19 to report in New Zealand today, detected in a recent returnee in a managed isolation facility. There are no new community cases.
Today’s new case is a woman in her 30s who arrived from Dubai on September 9, who is related to the three cases reported yesterday.
We are today reporting the death of a man who had COVID-19. The man was in his 50s and was a confirmed case of COVID-19 linked to the Auckland cluster. The man was admitted to Waikato Hospital on August 19 and was transferred to ICU on August 26. Sadly, he passed away yesterday afternoon.
The man’s whanau has asked us to tell the country that “coronavirus is so real”, and to be very vigilant and cautious. They have issued a plea to all New Zealanders: “if you are sick and have symptoms, stay home”.
This man’s death again emphasises the seriousness of the virus and the consequences it can have. There have now been 25 COVID-19 related deaths in New Zealand.
Our thoughts are with this man’s family and friends during this difficult time as they mourn the loss of their loved one. They have requested privacy as they grieve, and we ask that that is respected.
Today there are three people in hospital with COVID-19. One is in isolation on a ward in Auckland City Hospital. Two people are in ICU – one in North Shore Hospital and one person in Middlemore.
There are 57 people linked to the community cluster who remain in the Auckland quarantine facility, which includes 27 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and their household contacts.
