Kiwis in Queenstown and an Auckland suburb have been urged to get a COVID-19 test if they're experiencing symptoms, after it emerged a South Korean case who visited New Zealand spent time in the areas.
It comes after the Ministry of Health revealed a second coronavirus test carried out by South Korean authorities came back positive overnight.
South Auckland and Queenstown will now be under targeted surveillance, and public health officials will be carrying out some additional contract tracing there.
The person was based in the south Auckland suburb of Manurewa during their stay, and also visited Queenstown in early July.
In the daily COVID-19 press conference on Thursday, the Director-General of Health urged Manurewa residents and those who were in Queenstown at the same time to get tested for the disease.
"I am suggesting that anybody who has been in Queenstown from July 1-4 - a very short period before the school holidays - who may have had or have symptoms or may be concerned, please do get a test," Dr Ashley Bloomfield said.
"Likewise if people in Manurewa have symptoms ... you should seek advice and get a test. Others who may be concerned, you should reach out. If you'd like a test, that will of course be free."
The person flew from Auckland to Christchurch prior to their departure for South Korea. The ministry says close contact tracing of passengers on that flight is now complete, but their movements in Christchurch are still being tracked by Community Public Health.
The Ministry of Health says there continues to be no evidence of transmission in New Zealand involving this case.
"The public health risk is considered low and all domestic contacts of this case tested so far have returned negative results. Further contact tracing - and where appropriate testing - is taking place.
"We are continuing to follow up on the individual's wider movements while they were in New Zealand."
The ministry says it's confident that all the case's interactions in Queenstown have been identified.
On Monday, the Ministry of Health was notified of a traveller who tested positive for coronavirus in South Korea on July 22 - a day after they'd left New Zealand.
Korean authorities said the person was likely infected during a stop-off at an airport in Singapore, but the ministry said infection in New Zealand couldn't be ruled out.
Over the last few days, the ministry has been considering four possibilities in regard to the case:
- that it may have been a false positive result;
- that it may be an old infection which has returned a positive result;
- that it was a case recently acquired in transit; or
- that it was a case recently acquired in New Zealand.
Following the second positive COVID-19 test, the ministry is now discounting the possibility of a false positive.
Anyone concerned about their health as a result of this update is urged to call Healthline on 0800 358 5453.
