Breaking news! New Zealand confirms its first coronavirus case; mayor calls for calm

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed New Zealand’s first case of the novel coronavirus, making New Zealand the 48th country with a confirmed case.

The woman is a New Zealand citizen aged around 60. She had visited Iran and arrived in New Zealand on Tuesday via Bali on Emirates flight EK450.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson said: “The person arrived in Auckland on 26 February and travelled home in a private car.”

“Their family became concerned about their condition and called Healthline.”

The patient is currently in a stable condition. The spokesperson said: “They are in isolation in a negative-pressure room to prevent the disease spreading, and their condition is improving.”

Public health officials have begun tracing the person’s other close contacts and people on the same flight.

The Ministry of Health said sporadic cases in New Zealand were highly likely, but despite the confirmed case, the likelihood of a community outbreak remained very low.

The spokesperson said: “Thanks to public messaging, awareness of COVID-19 and our public health response to managing cases and contacts, the Ministry is confident that the risk this new infection poses to the public is being well managed.”

Health Minister David Clark today announced a series of new measures to combat the spread of coronavirus, including new travel restrictions on arrivals from Iran.

Clark said the Government would also strengthen health services at international airports, and international students from China would not be granted exemptions.

So far, the Government has carried out 130 coronavirus tests in New Zealand — all with negative results.

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Auckland mayor calls for calm

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said that, as Auckland was the “gateway to New Zealand”, it was almost inevitable that a case would emerge in the region at some point.

He said the city’s health services were well prepared.

“Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation in line with World Health Organization guidance, and I encourage Aucklanders to remain calm. The Ministry of Health will advise whether any public health measures are necessary.”

The patient is being treated in a negative-pressure room to prevent the virus spreading.

Negative-pressure rooms are used to contain airborne contaminants such as bacteria and viruses.

The room restricts contaminated air from circulating into the hospital.

 

Ministry of Health: infected person wore a mask during the flight, making transmission on board less likely

Asked whether the virus had already spread to others, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said this was unlikely because the person had worn a mask during the flight.

Bloomfield said anyone with symptoms who had been in a country where the virus was present should not turn up at their local doctor’s practice, but should call ahead so the practice could take the appropriate precautions.

The infected person travelled on a New Zealand passport, and it is not yet clear whether they used an electronic passport gate or interacted with a customs officer.

Officials will now increase their presence at airports, and people will receive information about what to do if they feel unwell.

 

Anyone with questions should call the dedicated Healthline number on 0800 358 5453 (international SIMs: +64 9 358 5453), which is available free of charge 24 hours a day.