14 Feb 2021

What you need to know: Three Covid-19 community cases in South Auckland

11:22 pm on 14 February 2021

As the Ministry of Health investigates the three new community cases of Covid-19 in Auckland, here's what we know so far.

Pak'n Save Manukau

Two of the cases visited Pak'n Save Manukau for a short time on 12 February. Photo: Google Maps

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - who was expected to attend the Big Gay Out event in Auckland - is headed to Wellington this afternoon for an emergency Cabinet meeting instead.

Who are the new cases?

The three new cases in the community are a mother, father and daughter from the same household in Papatoetoe.

The fourth member of the family has tested negative and remains at home under Public Health supervision.

The mother

She works for laundry and catering company LSG Skychefs, which services planes at the airport. She was last at work on 5 February when she was not believed to be infectious.

Her main duties at the company involved laundry duties.

There is no risk of her passing on the virus through laundry or food, the ministry has said.

When the mother developed symptoms, she and her daughter got tested.

The daughter

She is a year 9 student at Papatoetoe High School.

The school will be closed on Monday 15 February and Tuesday 16 February.

A testing facility is being set up at the school.

The father

He is a self-employed tradie. His positive result came in today and interviews are underway to identify his recent movements and who else needs to be tested.

What do their test results reveal?

Results from the genomic testing are expected late this evening and the ministry will provide an update on it on Monday.

Which locations did they visit?

Auckland

Papatoetoe High School

6 February: 7am to 8.15am, BP Papakura, BP Motorway Service Centre, Southern Motorway, Auckland

6 February: 7am to 8.15am, McDonald's, BP Motorway Service Centre, Southern Motorway, Auckland

12 February: 11.30am to 2pm, Chemist Warehouse Westfield Manukau, 5 Putney Way, Manukau

12 February: 3.45pm to 5pm, Pak'n Save Manukau, 6 Cavendish Drive, Manukau

13 February: 8.30am to 10am, Bunnings Warehouse Manukau, 55 Lambie Drive, Manukau

13 February: 1pm to 2.30pm, Bunnings Warehouse Takanini, 167 Great South Road, Takanini

13 February: 1.30pm to 4.30pm, Bunnings Warehouse Botany, 320 Ti Rakau Drive, Burswood

13 February: 5.30pm to 6.30pm, Ranfurly Skinny Superette, 17E Ranfurly Road, Papatoetoe

Taranaki

From 6 to 8 February, over the long Waitangi weekend, two of the cases travelled to New Plymouth where they visited tourist locations.

Locations of interest include:

6 February: 12 pm to 1.30 pm, Te Rewarewa Bridge, Fitzroy, New Plymouth

6 February: 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm, Sumela Kebab, 6 Breakwater Road, New Plymouth

6 to 8 February: 1.30pm 6 Feb to 10.30am 8 Feb, Amber Court Motel, 100 Leach Street, New Plymouth

6 February: 5.30pm to 9pm, Pukekura Park New Plymouth

7 February: 7.30am to 3.30pm, Egmont National Park, New Plymouth

8 February: 9.30am to 11am, Cycle Inn New Plymouth, 133 Devon Street East

8 February: 11.45am to 2.15pm, Puke Ariki Library and Museum, 1 Ariki Street, New Plymouth

8 February: 1.15pm to 2.45pm, Pizza Hut New Plymouth, corner of Grover Street and Leach Street

8 February: 2pm to 5pm, Back Beach, New Plymouth

8 February: 3:30pm to 4:35pm, BP, 7 Breakwater Road, New Plymouth

Other locations

6 February: 8:30am to :30am. GAS Piopio, 94 Moa Street, Pio Pio

8 February: 4pm to 5.30pm, McDonald's Otorohanga, 117 Maniapoto Street, Otorohanga

Who needs to get tested?

At Papatoetoe High School, staff, parents and caregivers are being contacted about what they should do if they are close or casual contacts.

Director General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, said the student's classmates were considered close contacts, as were the teachers who taught her class.

He said people who were at indoor places of interest at the same time as the cases are asked to isolate at home and get tested and remain at home until they receive their results.

Those at outdoor places of interest are considered casual contacts and are to get tested if they develop symptoms.

Testing centres

In Auckland, the hours for centres in Northcote, Balmoral, Henderson and Otara are being extended today.

The community testing centre in Wiri is also open today.

A testing centre will open at Papatoetoe High School from tomorrow.

There are five community testing centres in Taranaki: New Plymouth (Base Hospital and Medicross), Waitara, Hāwera and Ōpunakē.

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