20 Aug 2021

University of Auckland student tests positive for Covid-19

10:48 pm on 20 August 2021

Students at Waipārūrū Hall at Auckland University have been told to self-isolate in their rooms, after a fellow student returned a positive test for Covid-19.

Auckland, New Zealand - March 1, 2017: Sign and logo of University of Auckland set near modern dark gray offices in green park like environment. Gray sky.

File image. Photo: Claudine van Massenhove

The student was a resident in Whitaker Block but left and returned to Wellington on Thursday, where they are now isolating with their family after receiving the positive result today.

Wellington has three known cases of Covid-19, confirmed by the Ministry of Health in their 1pm update.

Students at the Waipārūrū Hall were alerted to the new case at about 9pm.

Auckland University said in a statement that the student attended classes on campus on Monday and Tuesday.

It's understood the Whitaker Block at Waipārūrū Hall also hosted a ball on Saturday.

"The university is working closely with the relevant health agencies on this situation, and is following their protocols, including for contact-tracing, to support our student and to protect the wider university community," the statement said.

"We will provide more updates as information comes to hand."

The university also said on its website "With the number of 'locations of interest' increasing every day, some of our students and staff have already been identified as close or casual contacts of a confirmed case".

"The university is well prepared for this, with detailed processes in place to manage the situation. We encourage all students to get vaccinated when eligible and to get a Covid-19 test if required to do so."

Earlier today it was revealed that three of the new 11 community cases are in Wellington. They had visited a location of interest in Auckland over the weekend and returned to the capital before the country went into lockdown.

In addition, people who were on the 5pm flight NZ445 from Auckland to Wellington last Sunday have been asked to isolate for 14 days and get a Covid-19 test as soon as possible.

Two people who have now tested positive for Covid-19 were on the flight.

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