Watch Live: Government to speak on Omicron case
A "reasonably sizeable number", believed to be up to 100, could be close contacts of an Omicron case who spent time in the community, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkin says.
The Ministry of Health last night revealed an Omicron-positive person – who later turned out to be British DJ Dimension (Robert Etheridge) – had been active in the Auckland community for two days.
Etheridge arrived in New Zealand from the UK on December 16 and after three negative tests in managed isolation, was allowed to complete their final three days in self-isolation.
He was one of the last people to have entered MIQ on the 7+3 arrangement.
Hipkins says it is "really disappointing" that the DJ "didn't follow the rules while they were in isolation".
It could have been a case with just a few contacts, he said, had Etheridge followed the rules.
"It appears he was out and about on Waiheke.
"He didn't wait, unfortunately, until he received his negative day nine test.
Hipkins doesn't know how many people are isolating in total but believes "it is a reasonably sizable number".
"As a result, those people (he came into contact with on Boxing Day) find themselves having to self-isolate as well."
Health officials have identified four cases in the same managed isolation facility as the man. But whole-genome sequencing results have revealed no link between the three cases and the man.
They are waiting on genome results for the fourth person.
The case visited the beach and had drinks with neighbours, Hipkins said.
There are 14 close contacts who were at dinner with the case. Six flew via charter plane to South Island to perform at festival.
While they are isolating, all of the other patrons and staff at the restaurant are considered to be casual contacts.
At the Impala nightclub, 47 contacts have been identified.
"We still don't have the full picture of this, so there's still a bit of work to be done," Hipkins says.
"We know Omicron is coming at some point, but want to delay it as much as possible."
In a statement posted to Instagram, Etheridge says he has been targeted by "hate and abuse" since outing himself as the Omicron case,
