Covid-19: All the locations of interest linked to Auckland's new community case
Hi neighbours,
A new Covid-19 case in the Auckland community was announced on Saturday evening, sending the city into a seven-day alert level 3 lockdown.
Here's an important update by reporter Melanie Earley from Stuff:
The Ministry of Health has released new locations of interest the new case, known as Case M, visited while infectious.
The 21-year-old man went to their GP on Friday afternoon, where he got tested, and then to a south Auckland gym later that day.
The new case is a family member of a student from Papatoetoe High School. That student had tested negative three times and had no symptoms.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there was a “cause for concern” as the person had been infectious for a week and had not been in isolation.
There are currently six new locations of interest visited by the new case. They are:
Hunters Plaza, Papatoetoe, February 20 between 11-2pm and February 26 between 2.55pm-5pm
Burger King, Highland Park, 25 February, 8pm-9pm
Your Health Pharmacy, Papatoetoe, 23 February, 2.45pm-3.50pm
Pak ‘N’ Save Manukau, February 21, 6pm-6.10pm
CityFitness, Papatoetoe, February 26, 3.25pm-4.30pm and February 20, 12.20pm-1.45pm
Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), Manukau Station Rd, February 22, 24, and 25, 12pm-6.30pm
MIT Breaktime Cafe, February 22, 3.15pm-3.45pm and February 24, 3.45pm-4.15pm.
More locations of interest will be loaded on the Ministry of Health's website.
Anyone who visited these locations is to be considered a casual contact of the new case.
The only exception is CityFitness, where visitors are considered casual plus contacts.
In an email to gym members, CityFitness said it was closed after being notified by Auckland Regional Public Health that a person who tested positive for Covid 19 had visited its Papatoetoe site.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.6% Yes
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13.9% No
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
Harbour Bridge lane closure - protests
The Treaty Principles Bill was introduced to parliament last week and could have ramifications on the partnership between the Crown and Māori.
Hīkoi mō te Tiriti (March for the Treaty of Waitangi) set off from Cape Rēinga on Monday morning and is expected to reach Wellington next Tuesday. It has now passed through Kaitaia, Kawakawa, Whangārei, Dargaville and is passing through Auckland on Wednesday.
What you need to know today:
- The hīkoi is due to cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge about 9.30am on Wednesday. Two northbound lanes will be closed at some point before the crossing, and remain closed during it.
- NZTA shared at 8:50am Wednesday:
'Curran St northbound on-ramp will be closed shortly, with two northbound lanes on the Harbour Bridge expected to close from approx 9.30am this morning. Allow extra time for likely delays through this area.'
- The hīkoi is expected to go across the Harbour Bridge, in a controlled fashion before marching through parts of the CBD towards Okahu Bay.
- Auckland commuters should expect traffic disruption in vicinity of both sides of the Harbour Bridge.
Stuff reporter Steve Kilgallon was at Stafford Park on the north side of the Harbour Bridge at 8.30am Wednesday and shared:
"I just walked through Stafford Park, where there’s about 400-500 people quietly assembled and more arriving; and about 20 police standing over near the motorway off ramp. Lot of Tino Rangatira flags in evidence, local streets very busy with parked cars."
Police have shared that they will respond accordingly to any issues that may arise along the route.