Flights, airports, supermarkets, and the Sky Tower are among new locations of interest linked to the confirmed community Omicron cases.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Nine cases from a single family have been confirmed as having the Omicron variant, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed today. The cases have triggered a move to the red setting for the entire country from midnight tonight.
The family travelled to Auckland from the Nelson/Tasman region on 13 January, attended a wedding and other events and visited a theme park and the Sky Tower (on 16 January, from 10am to 11am). They then returned to the Nelson/Tasman region on 16 January.
Another member of their household has since tested positive, as has a flight attendant who was on the same return flight as the family.
It is not clear how the family was infected.
A number of new locations of interest linked to the Omicron cases have been added to the Ministry of Health's website.
They include the Chemist Warehouse (from 8.40pm to 9pm) and PAK'nSAVE in Manukau on 19 January (from 7.58pm to 8.30pm), and Sand Dunz Cafe in Muriwai on 18 January (from 3pm to 3.30pm).
Totara Event Centre in New Lynn has also been linked to the Omicron cases, as they attended a private event there on 15 January from 12.30pm to 4.30pm.
Auckland Airport's regional domestic terminal is a location of interest from 3.45pm to 5.30pm on 16 January and Nelson Airport is a location from 6.50pm-7.10pm.
They also took the transfer shuttle bus that goes between the domestic terminal and the park and ride area, on 19 January from 1pm to 1.10pm and on 20 January from 3pm to 3.10pm.
There are five Air New Zealand flights that are locations of interest, which include the flights the infected family took, and the flights the flight attendant worked on. People on these flights are considered close contacts.
- Flight NZ5083 from Auckland to Nelson at 5.20pm on 16 January
- NZ5080 Nelson to Auckland at 4pm on 19 January
- NZ5077 Auckland to Nelson at 2pm on 19 January
- NZ5049 Auckland to New Plymouth at 7.50pm on 19 January
- NZ5042 New Plymouth to Auckland at 1.50pm on 20 January
Those who were considered 'close contacts' at locations of interest, like the Sky Tower, flights, or domestic terminal of Auckland Airport, need to self-isolate, test immediately and on day five after exposure. Further isolation and testing requirements will be provided by Public Health.
Others who were at location of interest linked to an Omicron case, but not considered a close contact, need to self-monitor for Covid-19 symptoms for 10 days after exposure. If symptoms develop, get a test and stay at home until you get a negative test result.
There are also several locations of interest in Motueka linked to Omicron cases, including:
- Repco (400 High Street, for 19 January from 4.24pm to 5pm)
- Countdown (108 High Street, for 19 January from 4.51pm to 5.50pm)
- New World (271 High Street for 18 January from 4pm to 4.31pm, and 20 January from 4.34pm to 5.30pm)
Summerset by the Park in Flat Bush and the Kwality Mini Bazaar in Takanini have also been listed on the page, with a link to suspected Omicron cases.
For a full list of locations of interest and updates, check the Ministry of Health's website.