March 29, 2020
First death from COVID-19 on West Coast
New Zealand had confirmed its first death linked to COVID-19.
A West Coast woman in her 70s died early yesterday morning, four days after she was admitted to Grey Base Hospital with what was initially thought to be influenza.
Because of that diagnosis staff were not initially wearing suitable protective equipment.
The DHB has placed 21 staff in self-isolation for the balance of 14 days from their last involvement in the patient’s care, and it will also be monitoring family members who visited the woman in hospital.
The Health Ministry reported 63 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, including 3 probable cases.
That brings the total in New Zealand to 514.
Nine people are in hospital, and 56 have recovered.
The Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, says so far 4 per cent of the cases are Maori and 2.6 per cent are Pacific Island.
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