Fifty staff members of Waikato Hospital's emergency department have been stood down after close contact with a positive Covid-19 case. See how the day's Covid-19 news unfolded with RNZ's blog.
The person spent three hours in the hospital's children's ED area on Friday night while asymptomatic, but has since tested positive.
A Waikato District Health Board spokesperson says protocols were followed but staff have been stood down as a precaution. She said most of the staff were not close contacts and can return to work today after a negative test result.
There was one death of a Covid-19 patient at Middlemore Hospital reported today.
At today's briefing - where 39 community cases were reported, including 9 in Waikato - Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay said there are 32 people in hospital with Covid-19, including seven in intensive care.
Meanwhile, a person tested in Whangārei has returned a weak positive for Covid-19. The Northland DHB says the person was tested on Monday.
It says the situation is under investigation and a repeat test has been organised. The person is an essential worker who was asymptomatic when tested.
See how the day's Covid-19 news unfolded with RNZ's blog: