Watch Live: 89 new community cases of Covid-19
There are 89 new community cases of COVID-19 to report today, 83 in Auckland, four in Waikato and two in Christchurch.
One further case in Auckland is an MIQ worker and is being investigated to determine whether it is a community or border-related case.
As at 10am, 39 of today’s cases are linked - including 26 household contacts - and 50 remain unlinked, with investigations continuing to help determine their connection to the outbreak.
Christchurch cases
There are two community cases in Christchurch, both from the same household. One of the cases recently travelled to Auckland to provide childcare, permitted under Alert Level 3 if no other appropriate person is available locally.
The person who travelled to Auckland had a negative test before travelling north and a second negative test before returning to Christchurch on Friday, October 15. The case was not considered infectious when they travelled back to Christchurch.
The other case works as a truck driver and the company the person works for is assisting with tracking their whereabouts during the four days the person was working during their infectious period. Initial information indicates the person was completing deliveries around the Christchurch area, with some trips to north Canterbury, the Ministry says.
Both people became unwell last week, were tested on 26 October and both returned positive test results last night. Currently, there are three households where nine close contacts have been identified. Both cases are currently isolating safety at home, with public health oversight, and with plans underway to transfer them to a local quarantine facility.
The local public health unit is gathering further information from the cases to identify close contacts and exposure events, including any locations of interest.
