A small number of North Shore Hospital staff have been stood down as a precaution after a baby has tested positive for Covid-19.

Waitematā DHB has advised the Ministry of Health that late yesterday, a nominated visitor to North Shore Hospital's maternity ward tested positive for Covid-19.

'The baby and the baby's mother were subsequently tested and the baby has returned a positive result, while the mother was negative,” says an MOH spokesperson.

'The mother and baby had been in a single room in hospital – separated from other mothers and babies – for the duration of their care and the positive case visited them twice while potentially infectious.

'The mother and baby have now been relocated to a Covid-19 appropriate ward and safety protocols are in place.”

The MOH says a small number of staff who have potentially interacted with the visitor have been stood down as a precautionary measure while investigations continue and Waitematā DHB fully assesses the situation to determine if any other actions are required.

'The Ministry's thoughts are with this family at this stressful time.”

Covid-19 case at Auckland City Hospital

A person who went to Auckland City Hospital's Emergency Department yesterday and was admitted to intensive care for non-Covid-19 reasons, has tested positive for Covid-19.

Auckland DHB is working at pace with the Auckland Regional Public Health Service to investigate this case and identify any potential contacts.

'The patient was separated appropriately on arrival at the ED as being at risk for Covid-19 and staff were wearing appropriate PPE including N95 masks,” says the MOH.

'They had also previously visited the ED and returned a negative test on Saturday, so it is believed the infection has been identified early.

'Auckland DHB advice is that patients and whānau who have been at Auckland City Hospital and in the ED do not need to take action unless they are contacted by public health officials.”

Waikato, Palmerston North cases update

Three household contacts of the Raglan case tested positive for Covid-19 overnight – one of which is a newly identified household contact living on the property – and all have now been moved to an Auckland quarantine facility.

The Ministry says these will be officially recorded in tomorrow's case numbers.

Meanwhile, initial tests from all four close contacts associated with worksites of the Auckland-based truck driver, who is isolating in Palmerston North, have returned initial negative results.

Testing in Waikato

Waikato DHB advises there has been a strong response to calls for people in Hamilton with symptoms to get tested.

'Yesterday, more than 600 swabs were taken across the testing centres at Founders and Claudelands in Hamilton, and around 150 swabs were taken at the pop-up testing site in Raglan,” says the Ministry.

'It is important that testing facilities are available for priority groups, to help us determine whether there has been any undetected community spread of the virus.

'So, if you are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms, are following guidance relating to a location of interest, or have been directed by Healthline or your GP, please seek a test immediately.”

Waikato DHB advises there is high demand at community testing centres in Hamilton and Raglan.

'It's encouraging to see the local community taking care and seeking a test, but if you do not match the above criteria, please call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or your GP for guidance before seeking a test.”

Testing is available at a range of dedicated sites, including Founders Theatre (8am - 4.30pm), Claudelands Event Centre (8am - 8pm), Raglan Rugby Grounds (10am - 4.30pm), as well as GPs and designated GP practices (which do not require you to be enrolled as patient).

For Covid-19 testing locations nationwide, visit the Healthpoint website, which will include details of a new pop up testing site in Huntly, which is expected to be open from this afternoon.

The Ministry also urges people to regularly check the locations of interest on the Ministry's website, which provides specific guidance for each location.

Anyone who is not symptomatic and has not visited a location of interest, does not need to get tested at this point, says the Ministry.

'Vaccinations remain steady, with more than 3000 (3082) vaccinations administered across the Waikato Region in the past 24 hours.

'Around 426,925 vaccinations have been delivered across the Waikato region to date – that's 264,224 first doses and 162,701 second doses. Around 71 per cent of the region's eligible population have had their first dose, and 42 per cent are fully vaccinated.

'If you haven't already been vaccinated, now is a good time. Please don't put it off.”

Whole genomic sequencing

Whole genome sequencing for the Raglan case and the Hamilton case have both been completed, confirming both cases are linked and both cases are also linked to one of the sub clusters in Auckland, says the Ministry.

'For the Auckland based truck driver, currently in isolation in Palmerston North, whole genome sequencing is expected later today.”

Wastewater testing

The Ministry says there are no unexpected wastewater detections to report.
The virus that causes Covid-19 was not detected in wastewater samples taken from 14 Waikato sites between September 23-30, which includes sampling in Hamilton which did not detect Covid-19 in samples taken on September 28 and 29.

'Wastewater sample collection has been arranged from locations within the Waikato and Manawatū-Whanganui regions. This includes Raglan, Huntly, Te Kauwhata, Ngaruawahia, Feilding, Hunterville, Tooroa, Putaruru, Hamilton and Palmerston North.

'Results of these are expected over the coming days, however the timing of the results depends on various factors including the sample arrival times and need to re-run tests.”

Alert Level 3 boundary exemptions
With the change to alert levels in parts of Waikato, the Ministry will be processing personal travel exemptions from 7am tomorrow, in the same way it has been processing applications for Auckland personal travel exemptions

'The criteria for personal travel exemptions into or out of the Waikato Alert Level 3 region will be the same as they currently are for the separate Auckland Alert Level region.”

Two million second doses of vaccine
'Today we've passed the two million mark for second doses of vaccine administered (2,018, 305). This is a really pleasing milestone and we want to reiterate our thanks to everyone who has so far had either their first, or final vaccination. Vaccination continues to be one of our strongest defences against Covid-19.”