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One new community case from Valentine's Day cluster

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Fri, 26 Feb 2021, 1:54PM

One new community case from Valentine's Day cluster

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Fri, 26 Feb 2021, 1:54PM

There are two new cases of Covid-19 in managed isolation and one new community case - a person linked to the Auckland February cases and who has been in quarantine from Tuesday 23 February to report today.

The latest community case is a household contact of other confirmed cases, according to the Ministry of Health.

The person was tested on arrival into quarantine and returned a negative result.
But they subsequently developed symptoms and returned a positive test, according to the Ministry of Health's statement today.

"As the person was possibly infectious for up to 48 hours prior to developing symptoms, [that person's] workplace is being treated as a location of interest."

The community case in quarantine worked at KFC Botany Downs between Monday 22 February 3.30pm and 12.30am on Tuesday 23 February.

There are three categories of contacts related to the KFC exposure event - the Ministry of Health is asking all contacts should call Healthline.

"KFC staff - there are 11 close plus contacts who worked at the same time. These people will be tested and required to isolate for 14 days along with their household contacts."

The cluster, which initially plunged Auckland into level 3 lockdown for three days, is now 12 people – all in managed quarantine at the Jet Park hotel.

Officials' focus has turned to the Botany Kmart, where one member of the cluster worked while they were Covid-19 positive.

That person caught the virus from a family member who is a student at Papatoetoe High School.

As they were at work while they had the virus, but were non-symptomatic, the Ministry of Health has labelled 15 staff members "close plus" contacts.

In this category, people are advised to do the same as a close contact and keep their household members at home in isolation until they return a negative day-five test.

Close contacts are advised to self-isolate for 14 days and be tested on day five and day 12.

So far, all the Kmart staff in the close plus category have been contacted by officials and are self-isolating.

Officials reported yesterday that there were eight negative tests so far returned from this group.

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