Confusion over Waitaki case

Gary Kircher. Photo: ODT
Gary Kircher. Photo: ODT
There is no need to panic about reports of a confirmed case of Covid-19 in the Waitaki district, Mayor Gary Kircher says.

On the Ministry of Health’s list of confirmed cases, a man in his 20s who tested positive was reported as being located in the Waitaki district, after previously being linked to South Canterbury.

However, Mr Kircher understood the mix-up was due to overlapping boundaries in the Ahuriri ward.

The man arrived in Christchurch, from Switzerland via Abu Dhabi on flight EY0052, on March 16.

‘‘It turns out ... [he] made his way to a crib in Lake Ohau Village and was there for a while,’’ Mr Kircher said.

‘‘At some stage, he was unwell and got tested in the South Canterbury DHB area and returned to his home in Christchurch where he has been self-isolating since.’’

Mr Kircher was confident anyone in contact with him had been traced and contacted by public health officials.

‘‘It’s not community transmitted, it’s someone who has come from overseas,’’ he
said.

‘‘They are really good at doing contact tracing.

‘‘There is no need to panic about it — it will all be being dealt with properly at that level.’’

gus.patterson@alliedpress.co.nz

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