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No new Covid-19 cases in the community; 21 MIT students being sought

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Mon, 1 Mar 2021, 12:47PM
(Photo / NZ Herald)
(Photo / NZ Herald)

No new Covid-19 cases in the community; 21 MIT students being sought

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Mon, 1 Mar 2021, 12:47PM

There are no new cases of Covid-19 in the community today.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and director general of health Ashley Bloomfield will hold a press conference at 3pm after a Cabinet meeting.

The last community case reported is Case O which is a household contact of Cases I, J, K and L who all are in the Auckland quarantine facility. Case O was reported last night.

They were moved to the Jetpark Hotel as a precaution on February 23 so were in quarantine during their infectious period which means there is no risk of spread in the community.

Case M and N - the 21-year-old who went to the gym after getting tested for Covid and his mother - have also been moved to the Jetpark along with their other household family members.

Contact tracers have identified 21 close contacts from the Manukau Institute of Technology who are being followed up with.

Health officials said to check the Ministry's website for the specific times where there could have been exposure to the virus.

"The vast majority of people on the campus at the same times as Case M are considered casual contacts and need to watch for symptoms. They do not need to have a test unless they have symptoms, or are a close or casual plus contact. All casual contacts should be limiting their movements and interactions with other people. Under Level 3, everyone in Auckland should also currently be staying at home."

There have also been 154 casual plus contacts identified from the student's visits to City Fitness Manukau and Hunters Plaza. These people need to stay home until they get a negative test result.

If you were at the gym on February 20 between 12.20pm - 1.45pm or February 26 between 3.25pm - 4.30pm and have not been contacted then please phone Healthline for advice

The first three cases from the Valentine's cluster - cases A, B and C - have now recovered and left the quarantine facility.

There is also ongoing wastewater testing happening near Papatoetoe High School which continues to be negative.

This morning, Ardern revealed there was a clear chain of transmission to the latest two cases which plunged Auckland into level 3 lockdown for a week.

Family members of the newest cases had contact with people from the second case during the last 72-hour lockdown when they were meant to be isolating.

While infectious, the 21-year-old then visited a number of high-risk environments, including the Manukau Institute of Technology, work and the gym.

Anyone who was at the locations of interest are either considered a close contact, a contact or a "casual plus contact".

Close contacts must: Self-isolate for 14 days and get a test.

Casual plus close contacts must: Please stay at home, get tested as soon as possible and call Healthline on 08003585453. Remain at home until you receive a negative test result. Self-monitor for Covid-19 symptoms for 14 days from your exposure. If symptoms develop after your first negative result, get another test immediately and stay at home until a negative test result is received.

Casual contacts: Monitor your health for the next 14 days. If you begin to feel unwell or develop any Covid-19 symptoms, contact Healthline on 0800 358 5454, get tested and stay at home until a negative test result is received.

The locations of interest:

February 26
• City Fitness, Papatoetoe - 3.25pm-4.30pm - Casual Plus Contacts
• Hunters Plaza - 3pm-5pm - Casual

February 25
• Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), Manukau Campus - 12pm-6.30pm - Casual
• Burger King Highland Park - 8pm-9pm - Casual

February 24
• Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), Manukau Campus - 12pm-6.30pm - Casual
• MIT Breaktime Café - 3.45pm-4.15pm- Casual

February 23
• Your Health Pharmacy, Great South Rd - 3.15pm-3.20pm - Casual

February 22
• Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), Manukau Campus - 12pm-6.30pm - Casual
• MIT Breaktime Café - 3.15pm-3.45pm - Casual
• KFC Botany Downs - 3.30pm-12.30am - Close or casual plus

February 21
• Pak'nSave Manakau - 6pm-6.10pm - Casual

20 February
• City Fitness, Papatoetoe - 11.15am-1.45pm - Casual Plus Contacts
• Hunters Plaza - 11am-2pm - Casual
• Kmart Botany - CUSTOMERS - 3.30pm-10.30pm - Close Contacts. Households must also isolate if the customer has symptoms
• Kmart Botany - STAFF - 3.30pm-10.30pm - Close Contacts. Households must also isolate until staff member returns day 5 test.
• Dark Vapes East Tamaki - CUSTOMERS - 7pm-8.30pm - Close Contacts. Households must also isolate if the customer has symptoms
• Dark Vapes East Tamaki - STAFF - 7pm-8.30pm - Close Plus Contacts. Households must also isolate until staff member returns day 5 test.

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