The number of people self-isolating in the South Island due to being a contact of the Covid-19 Delta outbreak has grown to more than 350. Photo / George Heard
The number of people self-isolating in the South Island due to being a contact of the Covid-19 Delta outbreak has grown to more than 350. Photo / George Heard
Covid-19 has again been detected in Christchurch's wastewater for a third day as the number of contacts to the Delta outbreak grows to more than 350 in the South Island.
The Government announced another day with no cases of the virus in the South Island today and 70 additional cases in the community.
But it was revealed Covid-19 has been detected in Christchurch's wastewater again.
A Ministry of Health spokesperson said a further sample collected on Wednesday was processed today and has returned a positive result.
This result, as revealed yesterday, is consistent with virus shedding from at least three cases in MIQ facilities in the city. However, further testing is underway from a range of sites in Christchurch.
The virus was also detected in samples collected from the Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant in Bromley on August 21 and 23 after previous negative results.
Meanwhile, as of 8am yesterday, 358 individuals are currently isolating in the South Island.
The majority of these, 193, are in Canterbury. There are 109 in Otago and Southland, 36 in the Nelson Marlborough area, 13 in South Canterbury and 7 on the West Coast.
The spokesperson said they expect the numbers of identified contacts to continue to rise across the coming days.
The map shown by Jacinda Ardern on Monday, showing how spread out contacts of cases were around New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
On Monday, 120 South Island contacts were identified, so that number appears to be steadily growing.
Cabinet will today decide whether to change the alert level 4 restrictions in place until 11.59pm tonight for the country, aside from Auckland. New Zealand's biggest city is in lockdown until 11.59pm on Tuesday, with the strong likelihood this will extend.
Experts are urging a few more days in lockdown across the country as part of a "cautious approach" to containing the Delta outbreak.
Epidemiologist Dr Michael Baker said there was still a risk the virus could be incubating outside Auckland and Wellington.
