3 cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation 25 February

Today, we have three new cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation, and no new cases linked to the Auckland February cluster.

One of the three cases today in managed isolation today is a historical case and not regarded as infectious.

All 11 cases associated with the Auckland February cluster remain in the Auckland quarantine facility.

Genome testing results now available for Case K has shown it to be the B.1.1.7 variant and again very closely related to the genome sequence for Cases A and B.

This provides further reassurance that the cases from the additional household announced on Tuesday have not appeared from elsewhere in the community. All cases that have been sequenced in this cluster are genomically linked and are connected to the cases at Papatoetoe High School.

Advice to the public

Information on locations of interest for people who may be contacts of COVID-19 cases in the community is available on the Ministry of Health website. This page also contains specific information on what you need to do if you visited a location of interest during the times of possible exposure.

Locations of interest

The Ministry website has also been updated with additional information on contact tracing, types of contacts and when to isolate.

COVID-19: Contact tracing

It’s important everyone stays vigilant and sticks to the basics: staying home if unwell and getting advice about having a test, washing hands, coughing and sneezing into the elbow, and wearing masks or face coverings on all public transport.

Please also keep up the good work and use the COVID Tracer app to keep track of where you’ve been, scan QR codes wherever you go and turn on Bluetooth tracing in the app dashboard.

Contact tracing

Close Contacts at Papatoetoe High School

Case A had 31 close contacts at the school, one of these tested positive (Case D). All others have tested negative for COVID-19.

Casual Plus Contacts at Papatoetoe High School

For this cluster, all the remaining students and staff at the school have been designated as Casual Plus contacts of Case A.

As at 8am this morning there have been 1,525 casual plus contacts identified at Papatoetoe High School. Excluding the three positive cases (Case E, I and J), 1,490 have returned at least one negative test result since 15 February. We have asked all these casual plus contacts to have an additional test on or after 22 February. So far all results from the additional testing have been negative.

We continue to work closely with the school to ensure all those in the school community who need to be tested are. Where necessary, this includes visits to students homes to make sure people are getting the support they need to access testing and remain isolated.

Kmart Botany contacts

A total 15 staff members have been identified as close plus** contacts. This number has decreased from that previously reported after further investigation on their contact with the case. All these people have been contacted and are self isolating. We currently have eight negative test results from this group.

We have also been contacted by 1236 people who reported being at the store at the times of interest. They have been provided with public health advice. These people have been asked to isolate for 14 days and be tested at day 5 and day 12 after their exposure to the case. We encourage anyone who has visited the store at the times of interest to contact Healthline. We expect this number to increase.

Home viewing

There was a private home viewing, on behalf of the homeowners, at the residence of the family (Cases I, J, K) on Saturday 20 February. The viewing lasted half-an-hour and was attended by three people. The agent and three attendees were all contacted by Public Health officials on Tuesday. They have all been tested and are awaiting their results.

The home is not regarded as a Location of Interest as the identities of everyone present is known.

/Public Release. View in full here.