Two prominent public figures are among the 205 confirmed or probable cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand.
New Zealand Film Commission chief executive Annabelle Sheehan and Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Paul Hunt, are battling Covid-19 Photo: Supplied
The Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Paul Hunt, is battling the illness, while New Zealand Film Commission has confirmed its chief executive Annabelle Sheehan also tested positive for respiratory illness.
Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield earlier today said there were now 205 confirmed and probably cases in Aotearoa, and there had been a total of 9780 tests undertaken so far.
Professor Hunt returned from a business trip to London and Geneva on Sunday, March 15 and immediately went into self-isolation.
The Human Rights Commission says during the week he started experiencing symptoms and was tested on Friday. A positive test was returned on Sunday.
In a statement, Professor Hunt said he was studiously following the advice of health professionals and was recovering at home in Wellington.
"Experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, I enjoyed the human right to medical care, but I also had a duty to the community to self-isolate, take the swab-test and now studiously follow the advice of the health professionals. Others have the same duty," he said.
"I report on my health-status because there is nothing to hide. There is no stigma. I work from home. I feel solidarity with past, present and future patients."
Hunt said these were "extremely dangerous" times for the most vulnerable members of society, "such as older people, disabled people, those with underlying health problems, and those living in poverty. History demonstrates the severe and unequal impact of introduced disease on tangata whenua."
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Film Commission has confirmed its chief executive Annabelle Sheehan has tested positive for Covid-19.
The commission said her symptoms are minor, and Sheehan is recovering in isolation at home in Wellington.
Sheehan worked in the Commission's Wellington office for three days while she was asymptomatic but infectious, a statement said.
The commission was trialling its virtual-meeting capability at the time, so there was reduced staff contact, no physical contact with people in the film industry or with other government officials, and none with Ministers or Parliamentary staff, it said.
Other professional and personal contacts have been informed.
Staff in close contact with Sheehan during the three-day period are contacting their professional and personal contacts.
The Film Commission's chief operating officer Mladen Ivancic is standing in as acting chief executive, while Ms Sheehan recovers.