Auckland truck driver who travelled to Palmerston North tests positive for COVID-19

An Auckland-based truck driver who travelled to Palmerston North for work has tested positive for COVID-19.

The person is currently isolating at a facility in Palmerston North. Two household contacts have been identified and are self-isolating.

The case was detected in a routine surveillance test in Auckland on Friday which returned a positive result earlier on Saturday.

The driver has been tested regularly, as required for essential workers travelling out of Auckland, and had previously returned a negative test result on September 24. The person's infectious period is determined to be from September 28.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service has completed its initial interview with the person. Whole genome sequencing is underway.

The hours worked by the driver means their contact with other people is limited.

A small number of exposure events are in the process of being worked through by public health staff.  Any that are locations of interest will be listed on the Ministry of Health website.

Palmerston North testing centres open on Sunday:

  • Drive-through Community Testing Centre, 575 Main Street, 10am-8pm
  • City Doctors White Cross, 22 Victoria Avenue, 8am-8pm
  • The Palms Medical Centre, 445 Ferguson Street, 8am-8pm