Two new community Covid-19 cases

by Hawke's Bay App
Wednesday, Feb 17, 2021 1:49 PM

There are two new cases of COVID-19 in the community, and one new case in managed isolation.

Both of today’s community cases are linked to the previous Auckland February cases.

Both cases are students at Papatoetoe High School. Case D is a classmate, and had already been identified as a close contact of Case A. Case E is Case D’s sibling.

Case interviews are continuing and further information will be available, including any locations of interest, at a media conference at 4.30pm.

Wastewater
The Ministry of Health has received the first results from ESR's wastewater testing for February 15.

So far, they have found no evidence of any community cases of COVID-19 in wastewater sampled.

Auckland Western and Eastern Interceptors, North Shore (Rosedale), Rotorua, and Christchurch all returned negative.
The South Western Interceptor (Auckland) returned a positive result, which is a consequence of COVID-19 cases at the Auckland quarantine facility. The levels detected are consistent with those seen over the last month.
Samples collected from the Papatoetoe catchment area arrived this morning and are being processed today. Hamilton samples are also being processed today.
Further results will follow as they are received and tested throughout the week.

Contact tracing
Contact tracing has identified 128 close contacts associated with Cases A, B and C. Of these, 76 have tested negative; there is one positive (Case D) and 49 results are pending.

Case investigation and contact tracing for Cases D and E is currently underway.

As at 1130 this morning, a total of 31 close contacts and 1523 casual plus contacts have been identified at Papatoetoe High School.

Of those, 29 close contacts have returned negative results, one positive result (Case D), and one is outstanding.

Of the casual plus contacts, 1159 have returned negative results, there is one positive (Case E), and 363 are outstanding. It’s important to note that Case E is a close contact of Case D, but for the purpose of test reporting is classified as casual plus.