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Third coronavirus case confirmed in New Zealand

Mar 05, 2020

A third case of coronavirus has been confirmed in New Zealand.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told Morning Report he got a report of a third positive test yesterday evening.

"We're getting all the information together and we'll update everybody at the same time at the update this afternoon," Bloomfield said.

"I want to have all the information then let everybody know at the same time" - Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield duration 8′ :50″ from Morning Report Add to playlistPlaylist Download as Ogg Download as MP3 Play Ogg in browser Play MP3 in browser

He said the positive Covid-19 result was not of the partner of the Auckland woman who tested positive on Tuesday.

"The swab for the partner of the second case is being processed today, so the positive result we received last night is a different case."

"I want to have all the information then let everybody know at the same time."

Bloomfield would not say which part of the country the person was in.

An Auckland woman in her 30s was yesterday confirmed as being the second case of Covid-19 in New Zealand. Her partner is awaiting test results and the family, including two pupils from Westlake Boys and Westlake Girls high schools, are in isolation at home.

Bloomfield said the partner's tests for coronavirus will go into the batch processed from 10am daily and results will be available this afternoon.

The two children are not being tested because they're not symptomatic. "The evidence is very strong ... that people don't transmit the virus unless they're symptomatic and neither of the children have symptoms."

The first person to be confirmed in New Zealand as having Covid-19 tested positive last week and has been recovering in hospital in Auckland.

More to come...

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