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A casual worker at Snowplanet in Silverdale has tested positive for Covid-19.
Although the Ministry of Health’s advice is that the man was not likely to have been infected while he was at the indoor skifield, a number of Snowplanet staff and recent visitors to the facility have since had tests.
The man was in contact with the current South Auckland cluster and last worked at Snowplanet on August 5. He tested positive on August 11.
As a precaution, and on Ministry of Health advice, Snowplanet advised staff who had been in contact with the infected person to isolate for three days, to seek professional health advice and to get tested.
Snowplanet spokesperson John Howsam says several of the staff were tested over the weekend, although none were showing symptoms. All tests were negative.
“Contact tracing is key and we have been very proactive about that,” he says. “We ensured we did whatever was required, and more. The issue is now in the hands of Primary Health and we are told the risk to staff and customers is very low.”
Mr Howsam says Snowplanet had a deep clean, which is standard operating procedure before any lockdown. Under Level 3, Snowplanet is in lockdown and will not reopen until August 26 at the earliest.
Orewa College Year 8 students were on a class trip at Snowplanet on August 10 and 11, just before the Alert Level 3 lockdown was announced. Principal Kate Shevland says although the worker in question was not at the facility then, when she became aware of the issue she sought advice from the Ministry of Health and Waitemata District Health Board.
“I was told the risk is very low, although some college staff or students may have since chosen to get tested, ” she says. “There have been many inter-school connections across Auckland for things such as sports and career days in the past few weeks, so as Dr Bloomfield has said, everyone needs to keep alert to symptoms just in case.”
The Ministry of Health advises that if you have symptoms consistent with Covid-19, such as cold or flu symptons, contact Healthline, 0800 611 116, or your doctor to find out if you need a test. The tests are free of charge.
Community testing stations are at Eventfinda Stadium carpark, 17 Silverfield, Wairau Valley; at 16-18 College Road, Northcote; and Northcare, 5 Home Place, Rosedale.
