Middlemore Hospital has reported another possible exposure event, after a person who went to the emergency department last night later tested positive for Covid-19.
File photo Photo: Stephen Forbes / Stuff / LDR
The new case was one of 27 new community cases reported today.
The patient was seeking treatment for issues unrelated to Covid-19, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
While they answered no to all Covid screening questions, clinical staff noted the patient was displaying a Covid-like symptom while in triage.
Staff took steps to investigate, isolate and test, with the patient subsequently returning a positive Covid-19 result.
They were then moved to a Covid-19 isolation ward at Middlemore Hospital.
The Ministry of Health said the patient was wearing a mask at all times in the emergency department.
As all staff were wearing appropriate PPE, no staff members were required to stand down.
Counties Manukau Health's Infection Prevention and Control team were working with the Auckland Regional Public Health Service to identify potential contacts.
On Wednesday night, Middlemore Hospital dealt with six patients with Covid-19, including two who turned up at the emergency department and later tested positive.
"As is always the case at the hospital we will see quite a number of people with Covid," Middlemore Hospital chief medical officer Peter Watson told RNZ earlier this week.
He said Middlemore had had more Covid-19 patients than any other hospital and was well prepared.