Coronavirus: Air New Zealand confirms eight staff test positive for COVID-19

All eight crew worked on long-haul fleets.
All eight crew worked on long-haul fleets. Photo credit: Newshub.

Eight Air New Zealand staff are among the 451 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19.

An airline spokesperson said on Saturday the staff had all worked on the long-haul fleet to either LA or London.

The spokesperson said one of the eight staff members has recovered from the virus.

In an email sent to staff on Friday afternoon and shared with Newshub, the airline confirmed it was aware of "confirmed cases" within the Air NZ workforce. 

Air NZ said it was working to identify any staff members who may have been in close contact with the new cases which would take up to 48 hours.

Staff were told that despite working on the frontline as essential service workers, the risk to flight attendants remains low.

"We would like to reassure you that while you have no symptoms you are no risk to other people," the email to staff said.

On Saturday, officials said New Zealand has 83 new cases of coronavirus COVID-19. There were twelve people in hospital - one on a ventilator and one in intensive care.

Overseas travel and links to confirmed cases continue to be the most significant infection path, Civil Defence Emergency Management director Sarah Stuart-Black told reporters.