A coronavirus scare which closed an Auckland bank branch on Monday was a false alarm, authorities say.
The ANZ store on Auckland's busy Queen St was closed to the public on advice from health authorities after a customer "took ill", sparking coronavirus concerns.
Two cleaners in hazmat suits arrived at approximately 7pm to disinfect the ground floor of the ANZ on 205 Queen St after the customer was taken to hospital in an ambulance.
A staff member from a neighbouring business - who wished to remain anonymous - said the building's real estate agent notified them that the ANZ had closed for cleaning.
"We're on the frontlines here in Queen St so we see a lot of people of that demographic," they said.
"But there's no point worrying about it because there's been no reported cases of coronavirus in New Zealand.
"We'll have to wait and see what happens when the plane from China lands at Whangaparaoa."
An ANZ spokesperson said they closed the store "out of an abundance of caution".
"Some cleaning was required and the branch reopened," their statement said.
In a statement, Auckland Regional Public Health Service said the ill person's symptoms were "not consistent with novel coronavirus".
News of the coronavirus scare comes as more than 24,000 cases of the deadly virus have been reported worldwide and the death toll in mainland China reached 490 as of Wednesday.
