A University of Auckland student who tested positive for COVID-19 this week went to a ball, a study centre and several classes during their infectious period, it's been revealed.
The university on Saturday afternoon released a list of the places the student visited on campus before they learned they were one of the 51 people infected during New Zealand's latest COVID-19 outbreak.
The provisional list of locations includes:
- Friday 13-Thursday 19 August - university accommodation - Whitaker Block, 27 Whitaker Place, Auckland
- Friday 13 August, 8am-10am - OPTOM 216B - 505-358 (Grafton)
- Friday 13 August, 1pm-2pm - STATS 101, STATS 101G & STATS 108 - F&PAA/260-115 (City Campus)
- Saturday 14 August - The Waipārūrū Ball - Aotea Centre
- Monday 16 August, 9am-11am - OPTOM 272B - 503-124 (Grafton)
- Monday 16 August, around midday - open study space - Kate Edger 4th Fl (City Campus)
- Tuesday 17 August, 1pm-2pm - STATS 101, STATS 101G & STATS 108 - F&PAA/260-115 (City Campus)
- Tuesday 17 August, 4pm-6pm - OPTOM 263B - 502-039 (Grafton)
- Time not known - walked through campus, through engineering building (City Campus)
Newshub has been told the student was one of about 500 guests who attended the Waipārūrū Ball last Saturday.
In a statement, the university said it had been working closely with the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) to identify locations on campus visited by the student.
"We need to stress that these have not yet been designated as formal 'locations of interest', although it is possible that some or all of them will be," the statement reads.
"ARPHS is currently activating its contact-tracing process and preparing letters that will be sent directly to anyone identified as a 'close contact' based on these locations, with guidance on what steps to take."
Those students and staff who receive letters have been urged to follow their instructions, while those who do not are not considered close contacts and are deemed to be at low risk of contracting COVID-19.
"As with everyone who is not deemed a close contact, if you become unwell or develop symptoms, you will need to get a test. Please phone your GP or Healthline (a 24/7 service with interpreters available) on 0800 358 5453 to arrange this," the university says.
It adds that the list is provisional and further information would be provided when it came to hand.
The university and ARPHS are also establishing a pop-up testing centre for students currently in isolation in the Whitaker Block and Waipārūrū Hall, so they don't have to seek a test elsewhere.
About 460 students in the affected hall of residence have been self-isolating there since Friday evening.
