COVID-19: Westpac staff member tests positive

Westpac Auckland Head Office.
Westpac Auckland Head Office. Photo credit: Google Maps

A Westpac NZ staff member has tested positive for COVID-19, the bank has confirmed.

The person was a non-customer facing employee who works at the corporate head-office building in Auckland City.

The employee had been away from the office last Friday, it is not thought they became infectious until Tuesday this week.

A Ministry of Health Spokesperson confirmed the case was included in the community numbers announced on Friday.

"As soon as becoming aware of contact with a COVID-positive person, the employee self-isolated," a spokesperson said.

"The self-isolation started last Friday evening and official advice is that the staff member would not have become infectious until Tuesday of this week."

The spokesperson said as a precaution, the bank is conducting a deep clean of the workspace and floor where the staff worked.

"We are in frequent contact with this employee and are offering full support."

The Ministry of Health reported nine new cases of COVID-19 on Friday - eight imported cases and one close household contact of the COVID-positive case. 

New Zealand has 66 active cases and 1567 confirmed cases overall.

The person who tested positive on Wednesday had visited several areas around Auckland, including The Malt in Greenhithe, Snap Fitness in Browns Bay, and had a household contact who attended Rangitoto College.

The Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says although the cases are "well contained," Kiwis shouldn't get complacent.

Bloomfield has asked Kiwis to get back into the habit of recording their movements by using the QR code scanner, wearing masks and continue to take hygiene measures.