Source: Covid-19 New Zealand Government Announcements
Omicron close contacts update
Yesterday we reported New Zealand’s first case of the Omicron variant in a recent international arrival who tested positive in a day 0/1 test at a Christchurch managed isolation facility.
All of the passengers on the same international and domestic flights as the case are being treated as close contacts, and all are isolating in a managed isolation facility.
Two other passengers on the international flight have tested positive for COVID-19 and one further passenger’s positive result is being investigated as a historical infection. These three people have been moved to a managed quarantine facility. Whole genome sequencing has identified one of these infections as the Delta variant.
Whole genome sequencing for the other two is due later today.
All other passengers have returned negative day 0/1 and day 3 tests.
Urgent whole genome sequencing is being carried out on all positive test results in recent returnees to determine if they have the Omicron variant.
While the arrival of a new variant is concerning, New Zealand is well placed to manage Omicron cases with isolation and testing requirements for all new arrivals, robust infection and prevention control and PPE measures at airports and MIQ facilities, and frequent surveillance testing of staff who have any contact with recent returnees.
