April 06, 2020
COVID-19 cluster in Christchrurch rest home
Twenty residents of a Christchurch rest home have been transferred to Burwood Hospital because of a cluster of 15 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases among residents and staff.
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says those transferred were not at this stage in need of hospital care, but the DHB believes it is a safer place to manage them in strict isolation.
A DHB staffer has been put in the Rosewood Aged Care home to ensure the remaining 40 residents have appropriate controls, and in case any are incubating the virus.
There were 39 new confirmed cases and 28 probable cases today, bringing the New Zealand total to 1106.
There are 13 people in hospital including three in ICU, one in a critical condition.
Yesterday 3709 tests were completed, with there now being 65 community-based assessment centres in operation and 48 swabbing centres.
While the majority of cases are still linked to overseas travel, 2 percent of cases are thought to be community transmission and efforts will be made in the next few days to assess how many other cases in Auckland, Waikato and Southland were also the result of community transmission.
The known rate of Maori affected is 7.8 percent.
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