Seemorerocks: New Zealand

Thursday, 28 January 2021

Community Cases!? WE SAY NO TO LOCKDOWN! Billy TK on Bad News with Vinny Eastwood

What you need to know:

Two people who completed their managed isolation in the Pullman Hotel - the same facility as the Northland case - and at the same time as that case are now being treated as confirmed COVID-19 infections. They are a father and daughter.
Genome sequencing shows the adult and child have the South African variant and their infections are linked to the Northland woman. Serology results should be returned on Friday
COVID Response Minister Chris Hipkins says a lockdown in Auckland is unlikely
A number of locations of interest have been identified in north Auckland and people who visited them at roughly the same time as the infected individuals are being asked to isolate and get a test
Dr Bloomfield says there is currently "no evidence" of community transmission, but is calling on people to be tested if they have symptoms or visited locations of interest
There's been chaos at the Albany testing station where long queues of cars were lined up. No medical staff were present when the site was scheduled to open at 8am
A third person in the family's bubble has tested negative. The two infected individuals are being move to an Auckland quarantine facility
Pullman Hotel guests are being asked to remain in their rooms until at least 1pm on Thursday. The MIQ facility is also now closed to new arrivals.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff acknowledges the situation is "unsettling" but is urging residents to "scan" QR codes, wash their hands, wear masks on public transport and get tested if they have symptoms