13 Feb 2022

Auckland hospital outbreak: All patients and staff on two wards to be tested

11:37 am on 13 February 2022

All patients and staff in two wards for the elderly at Auckland City Hospital will be tested for Covid-19 over coming days, after 13 cases were found yesterday.

AUCKLAND - FEB 20 2016:Auckland City Hospital at night.

Photo: 123rf.com

Six staff members and seven patients have tested positive for Covid-19, the Auckland DHB confirmed last night.

A staff member from one of the hospital's older people's wards recently became symptomatic and returned a positive result.

After that, five other staff members and seven patients also returned positive results.

The source of transmission and index case is still under investigation.

The Auckland DHB said it had contacted the families of patients who have tested positive and was supporting them.

It said patients and whānau who have been at the hospital do not need to take action, unless they are contacted by the public health team or the DHB.

The hospital has temporarily stopped new admissions to the Awatea and Marino older people's wards.

The Ministry of Health announced 454 community cases of Covid-19 yesterday, a new record, with almost 300 cases in Auckland alone.