Covid-19: One new MIQ case, remaining close contacts of community case all negative
Torika Tokalau
There is one new case of Covid-19 in managed isolation, a week after the most recent community outbreak was announced in Auckland.
The new case arrived in New Zealand from Singapore on February 16 and tested positive after their routine day 3 test. One previously reported case has been reclassified as under investigation, meaning the number of active cases remains at 51.
The Ministry of Health also confirmed all close contacts associated with the Auckland family of three at the centre of the latest community outbreak had returned negative tests.
These include those linked to the school and travel group to New Plymouth.
The last cases detected in the community were on Friday, taking the total linked to the cluster involving a daughter, mother and father, to seven.
Papatoetoe High School
As at 8am on Sunday, a total of 31 close contacts and 1,413 casual plus contacts had been identified at Papatoetoe High School.
Twenty five health professionals were the first in the country to be vaccinated on Friday, before they administered the vaccines.
The number of casual plus contacts has again decreased due to some people not being at school at the time of exposure, the ministry said.
Of the casual plus contacts, that include the wider student and staff school population, 1,395 have returned negative results, with one positive (Case E, who is a classmate of the original case), and 17 results still to come in.
One negative result, reported on Saturday has been removed from the tally as that person is no longer considered a casual plus contact.
Poll: Are you still heading to your local for your caffeine fix, or has the $$ changed your habits? ☕
Auckland has a thriving cafe culture, but with costs climbing, that culture is under pressure. We’ve seen the headlines about recent closures across the country, and it’s a tough pill to swallow along with a $6+ coffee.
We all want our favourite spots to stay open, but we also have to balance our own budgets ⚖️
We want to know: How are you handling the "coffee math" in 2026? Are you still heading to your local for a chat and a caffeine fix, or has the cost of living changed your habits?
Keen to read more about "coffee math"? The Post has you covered.
-
42.8% I avoid spending money on coffee
-
41.1% I still indulge at my local cafe
-
16.1% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
Poll: Should we ditch daylight saving? 🕰️
First introduced in New Zealand in 1927 with the passing of the Summer Time Act, it's what we know as 'Daylight Saving' and this year it ends on the first Sunday in April.
While we do get to sleep in this time around, some people would like to scrap the clock tinkering for good.
And why? Some evidence suggests the time changes are bad for our health as they mess with sleep patterns leading to short-term fatigue and affecting mood. Meanwhile the hour change is frustrating for farmers and a nightmare for getting the littlies to sleep. But what's your take?
-
40.5% Yes - get rid of the clock changes
-
57.6% No, I enjoy it
-
1.9% Other - I'll share below
Alan and Hazel Kerr share Senior New Zealander of the Year Award 2026
Dr Alan and Hazel Kerr describe themselves as ‘just ordinary old Kiwis’, despite being named as the 2026 Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealanders of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau.
The amazing couple prompted a standing ovation at a star-studded Auckland event which recognised their tireless efforts, with Alan travelling to and from Gaza and the West Bank 40 times to help children over 20 years, and Hazel travelling 20 times.
Click read more to find out more.
Loading…
