The Ministry of Health has confirmed today that a woman who recently travelled from overseas and completed her stay in managed isolation in the Pullman Hotel in Auckland has tested positive for COVID-19.
In a press conference held this afternoon Minister for COVID-19 Response Chris Hipkins confirmed the case status. Minister Hipkins added the person’s husband and hairdresser have tested negative, which is an encouraging development.
The Minister also confirmed that the strain of infection is the South African variant and the source of infection is highly likely to be a fellow returnee during the person’s stay at the Pullman Hotel. Mr. Hipkins says this is good news because they know where the source of infection is and don’t have to divert the scientists and health experts from other COVID related work in order to identify that source. He thanked the scientists for their fast work completing the genome sequencing overnight.
Mr. Hipkins says at this stage they don’t know exactly how the infection took place. Investigations are continuing that include looking at CCTV footage from the Pullman hotel to identify when and where they may have come into contact with one another. The Minister thanked the woman who adhered to infection control guidelines in her room and in the exercise space, for her diligence, and says everything they have seen suggests she has done all of the right things.
He also confirmed that it has been decided to delay the release of people who were due to complete their isolation at the Pullman today. 46 people affected by the decision will stay “a little longer”. The MOH is expected to give an update later this afternoon.
Watch the full press conference here.
Meanwhile community testing capacity in Northland and Auckland has been expanded in response to public demand.
Two additional pop-up testing centres are open today in Helensville and Mangawhai, and opening hours at all of the existing community testing centres in Northland and Auckland have been extended (for locations and opening hours see the table below.)
17 testing centres are open in Northland and Auckland today, in addition to testing that is also taking place at GPs and Urgent Care Clinics.
Northern Region Health Coordination Centre Lead (and Counties Manukau Health CEO) Fepulea’i Margie Apa says the additional capacity stretches from Kaitaia to Wiri and thanked everyone involved for their rapid response.
Information for people seeking a COVID-19 test
Only people who were at the premises listed on the Ministry of Health website around the times stated, need to isolate, contact Healthline, and get tested.
If you were not at one of these premises and you do not have any symptoms you do not need to be tested. If you are feeling unwell call Healthline on 0800 358 5453
The key messages for people who were at these premises around the times stated:
- Isolate away from others, and remain isolated until they have a negative test
- Call Healthline 0800 358 5453
- Get tested
The message is still to be kind to each other and help the public health team focus on the testing that needs to be done today.
For up-to-date information on testing locations in Northland, visit www.northlanddhb.org.nz
For up-to-date information on testing locations in Auckland, visitwww.arphs.health.nz/covid19test
For up-to-date information on all testing locations, please call Healthline (0800 358 5453) or visit www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19/
The Northland and metro Auckland DHBs (Counties Manukau, Waitematā and Auckland DHBs) are operating a regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the Northern Region Health Coordination Centre (NRHCC).
Pop-up CTCs as at 25 January 2021
| WEST | HELENSVILLE COMMUNITY TESTING CENTRE
Te Whare Oranga ō Parakai, 11 Parakai Ave, Parakai |
Tue 26 Jan to Wed 27 Jan
9:00am – 5:00pm |
Walk-In/Drive Thru |
| NORTHLAND | MANGAWHAI COMMUNITY TESTING CENTRE
Mangawhai Domain, 75 Moir Street, Mangawhai |
Mon 25 Jan12:00pm – 6:00pm
Tue 26 Jan to Wed 27 Jan8:30am – 4:30pm |
Northland CTCs as at 25 January 2021
| WHANGAREI | KAMO
20 Winger Crescent |
Mon 25 Jan to Fri 29 Jan
9:00am – 4:00pm |
| WHANGAREI AREA | POHE ISLAND
Rock N Roll Club Building Off Riverside Drive |
Mon 25 Jan to Fri 29 Jan
9:00am – 4:00pm |
| WHANGAREI AREA | RUAKAKA TESTING CENTRE
Refining NZ Visitor Centre |
Mon 25 Jan to Fri 29 Jan
9:00am – 4:00pm |
| KAIPARA | DARGAVILLE
Dargaville Hospital (Portacom at the rear of outpatients) |
Mon 25 Jan to Fri 29 Jan
9:00am – 4:00pm |
| FAR NORTH | KAITAIA HOSPITAL
29 Redan Road (Whare at front of the hospital) |
Mon 25 Jan to Fri 29 Jan
9:00am – 4:00pm |
| MID NORTH | KERIKERI
Turner Centre (Portacom – please drive right in front of the wheel chair ramp if you don’t see nurses outside) |
Mon 25 Jan to Fri 29 Jan
9:00am – 4:00pm |
| MID NORTH | KAWAKAWA
Ngāti Hine Health Trust 2/4 Rayner Street |
Mon 25 Jan to Fri 29 Jan
9:00am – 3:00pm |
| MID NORTH | KAIKOHE
Te Hau Ora O Ngāpuhi – GP Clinic 113 Broadway Street |
By appointment only – phone 0800 484 006 then select Option 2 |
| HOKIANGA | RAWENE
Rawene Hospital |
Please call before you come to advise you would like a test –
09 405 7709 |
Metropolitan Auckland CTCs as at 25 January 2021
| NORTH | NORTHCOTE COMMUNITY TESTING CENTRE
16-18 College Road, Northcote. Corner of College Road and Kilham Avenue. Entrance via College Rd |
Mon 25 Jan
8:30am – 6:00pm (Extended Hours) Tue 26 Jan to Fri 29 Jan 8:30am – 4:30pm Sat 30 to Sun 31 Jan 8:30am – 2:30pm |
Walk-In/Drive Thru |
| CENTRAL | BALMORAL COMMUNITY TESTING CENTRE
182 Balmoral Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024 |
Mon 25 Jan
8:30am – 6:00pm (Extended Hours) Tue 26 Jan to Fri 29 Jan 8:30am – 4:30pm Sat 30 to Sun 31 Jan 8:30am – 2:30pm |
|
| WEST | WHĀNAU HOUSE, WAIPAREIRA TRUST HENDERSON
Corner of Edsel St & Catherine St, Henderson |
Mon 25 Jan
8:00am – 6:00pm (Extended Hours) Tue 26 Jan to Fri 29 Jan 8:00am – 4:00pm Sat 30 to Sun 31 Jan 8:00am – 2:00pm |
|
| WEST | HEALTH NEW LYNN
Level 1 Carpark, Totara Health Services, McCrae Way, New Lynn |
Mon 25 Jan
8:30am – 6:00pm (Extended Hours) Tue 26 Jan to Fri 29 Jan 8:30am – 4:30pm Sat 30 to Sun 31 Jan CLOSED |
|
| SOUTH | THE WHĀNAU ORA COMMUNITY CLINIC
25 Druces Road, Wiri |
Mon 25 Jan
8:30am – 6:00pm (Extended Hours) Tue 26 Jan to Fri 29 Jan 8:30am – 4:30pm Sat 30 Jan 8:30am – 2:30pm Sun 31 Jan CLOSED |
|
| SOUTH | ŌTARA COMMUNITY TESTING CENTRE
Otara Town Centre, 14 Fair Mall, Otara |
Mon 25 Jan
8:30am – 6:00pm (Extended Hours) Tue 26 Jan to Fri 29 Jan 8:30am – 4:00pm Sat 30 Jan CLOSED Sun 31 Jan 10:00am – 2:00pm |
This article originally referred to Minister Chris Hipkins as the Minister of Health, this has been corrected.