There are no new community cases of Covid-19 being reported today but there are six new positive cases managed isolation.

The number of previously reported cases that have now recovered is two. The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 71.

The total number of confirmed cases is 2,120.

Since January 1, 2021, there have been 41 historical cases, out of a total 308 cases.

Grand Mercure managed isolation facility Auckland

As part of investigations into a recent ‘day 12' case at the Grand Mercure managed isolation facility in Auckland, health officials are looking at the possibility of a transmission within this facility, says a statement from the Ministry of Health.

Results from genome sequencing show a link between two returnees at the Grand Mercure. The infection for both returnees is confirmed as B.1.1.7, the variant first identified in the UK.

The returnees were staying in separate rooms on different floors. They arrived on separate flights within two days of each other. An investigation into the source of the infection is underway.

At this stage, no other cases within the facility have been found linked to these two cases but investigations continue, says the ministry.

As a precautionary measure, around 250 returnees who have left the facility since March 10 are being contacted today, asked to get tested immediately and remain in isolation at home until a negative result is returned.

Other immediate steps taken include additional on-site testing being provided and exit tests put in place for all returnees leaving the facility. The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment will communicate with all current returnees within this facility about any public health measures being put in place for them, says the MOH statement.

'Additional surveillance testing of staff at the Grand Mercure facility is being put in place as a further precautionary measure.

'Both returnee cases have been previously publicly reported and one is the case previously reported related to two bus journeys from the Grand Mercure to an exercise area.

The classification of 14 returnees who were also on the bus as close contacts is based on a public health assessment of the exposure event. The assessment will have included consideration of proximity to the case, amount of time that they may have been exposed, how infectious the case was likely to have been at the time, whether the virus is a new more infectious variant, and whether infection, prevention and control protocols were followed, says the statement.

'There is no evidence of any Covid-19 cases in the community connected to this situation at this time.”

MBIE is conducting an internal investigation into the bus journeys to determine what happened in this case and what improvements, if any, can be made to strengthen their processes, says the statement.

Grand Millennium managed isolation facility Auckland

As previously reported, Case A's household member remains under investigation following one weak positive result followed by a negative test result. They are being managed as a close contact rather than as a case with further testing planned, says the ministry.

'Auckland regional public health officials consider there to be a very low risk to the person's workmates at Countdown Auckland City, but have discussed the results with the supermarket's health and safety team.”

As a precautionary measure, it was agreed that some colleagues identified as working closely with the person under investigation will stay home until they receive a day five negative test says the MOH.

'Shoppers and other staff are not considered to be at risk.”

Testing information

Testing remains steady across the current Auckland testing sites. These will continue to assess whether they need to increase capacity at these sites or stand up new sites.

On Wednesday, 6,209 tests were processed. The seven-day rolling average up to yesterday is 4,575 tests processed.
The total number of tests processed by laboratories to date is 1,867,966.

For up-to-date information on testing locations in Auckland, visit https://www.arphs.health.nz/ and for all testing locations nationwide, visit the Healthpoint website.

New border case details