It has been revealed that an Air New Zealand crew member who later tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival in China had visited a number of stores in Auckland last weekend - with health officials now urging staff and shoppers to remain alert for symptoms.
The airline staffer tested positive in Shanghai on Sunday, after initially returning a negative result.
They had visited a petrol station, two supermarkets, a paint shop, a pharmacy and a pet shop, according to the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS). The public health department is continuing to identify locations the suspected case may have visited prior to departing on their flight to Shanghai.
Staff members at the following stores are being advised to watch for symptoms. If they become symptomatic - such as developing a new or worsening cough, a sore throat, runny nose, fever, or difficulty breathing - they must isolate at home and get tested.
However, shoppers who were in-store at the specified periods are considered to be at "very low risk", said ARPHS, but should adhere to public health advice and get tested and isolate if they develop symptoms.
On Friday, November 20, the crew member stopped by BP Connect in Mangere, Resene ColorShop in Mt Roskill, and Countdown and New World in Papatoetoe.
On Saturday, November 21, the case visited the pharmacy at Countdown Greenlane and Animates Manukau.
The Ministry of Health is urging anyone who visited the Manukau pet shop between 1:22pm and 2:11pm on Saturday to get tested for the virus. ARPHS confirmed that staff and shoppers who were in-store during this period should get a test and self-isolate until receiving a negative result.
Staff who were working between 11:45am and 12:15pm on Friday at the Mt Roskill Resene have also been asked to get a test and isolate until they return a negative result. However, customers in-store at the time are considered to be very low-risk and are not required to isolate or get tested - unless they develop symptoms consistent with the virus.
On Tuesday night, Resene advised that its Mt Roskill branch would be closed for the next few days.
"No Resene staff are showing any symptoms," the business said in a social media post.
"As a precaution, the Mt Roskill Resene ColorShop will be cleaned before reopening."
Locations visited by the Air New Zealand crew member
Friday, November 20
- BP Connect, Coronation St, Mangere: 9:28am - 9:35am
- Resene, Mt Roskill: 11:45am - 12:15pm
- Countdown, Papatoetoe: 7:09pm - 7:22pm
- New World, Papatoetoe: 7:29pm - 7:43pm
Saturday, November 21
- Pharmacy, Countdown Greenlane: 12:34pm - 12:42pm
- Animates Manukau: 1:20pm - 2:11pm
A number of GPs and urgent-care clinics in the CBD offer COVID-19 testing for free, without needing to be a patient of these practices. See 'Where to Get Tested' on the ARPHS website for more details.
Anyone who was at the above locations and develops symptoms should ring Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or contact their GP, and say they are a casual contact.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are a new or worsening cough, sore throat, runny nose, loss of sense of smell, difficulty breathing or fever.
A spokesperson from ARPHS said the department is still completing its investigation and may identify other locations visited by the suspected case.
At 10:30am on Wednesday, ARPHS issued a correction to the time the suspected case visited Countdown Papatoetoe on Friday, November 20. The person was in the store from 7:09pm until 7:22pm, not earlier in the afternoon as previously stated. The article has since been amended.
