13 Nov 2020

Mystery Auckland Covid case - a city waits

From Nine To Noon, 9:08 am on 13 November 2020
A health worker conducts a test at a COVID-19 coronavirus testing centre in the suburb of Northcote in Auckland on August 12, 2020.

Photo: AFP

Early results from genomic testing shows the latest Covid-19 community case in Auckland is looking more likely to be linked to the Defence Force cluster. The Minister of Covid-19 Response Chris Hipkins says that's encouraging with further information expected to be available later today.

A woman in her twenties who lives in an inner-city apartment and works in a High St clothes shop, with no apparent links to the border, tested positive for the virus yesterday.

Meanwhile, public health officials are asking people who work in downtown Auckland to work from home today if possible, but for those who must go into the central city they should wear a mask, and maintain social distancing.

Philippa Tolley talks to microbiologist Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles, from Auckland University