Covid 19: DJ in the clear after Wellington wedding coronavirus cluster

The DJ from a Wellington wedding that's being treated as a cluster of Covid-19 is relieved he wasn't up close and personal with the crowd for the gig.

As of this morning there are a total of 368 confirmed and probable cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand.

Most cases are still linked to overseas travel or to existing clusters of confirmed cases, but there are several suspected clusters of community transmission.

• Marist College in Auckland.
• The World Hereford cattle conference in Queenstown.
• A trip by a Wellington group of friends to the US.
• A contact with the Ruby Princess in Hawke's Bay that became infected and went to a winery.
• A rest home in Hamilton.

The wedding was held on Saturday, March 14, at Boomrock Lodge, which is on 650ha of farmland in Ohariu Valley.

It's unclear how many people from the wedding have contracted Covid-19, but it's understood it camefrom a guest who had travelled from the UK.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield confirmed there was a clear link to overseas travel.

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The wedding's DJ first became aware of the situation when he received a text from the groom, followed by a phone call from a nurse.

It's understood the bride and groom are struggling to get back to New Zealand from their overseas honeymoon.

The DJ, who did not want to be named, said his ears pricked up when people were thanked for coming "far and wide" during the wedding speeches.

"I just took note of it, but even back then it [Covid-19] wasn't really as big as it is now, it was still bubbling way and happening overseas and still heading our way really," he told the Herald.

To his relief, the DJ had set up his equipment on a balcony outside and was at least a couple of metres away from guests during the evening. He has not developed any symptoms.

But he was worried for others, even though the dance floor wasn't full the whole night.

"Weddings these days are not like they used to be when I was a kid when everyone got on the dance floor and was really clustered. Nowadays probably everyone jumps on for the first couple of songs and then they scatter."

Boomrock's managing director Ollie Ormand did not answer the Herald's questions about what measures had been taken at the lodge.

"As you can imagine we are all dealing with plenty at the moment."

• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website

But Ormand said the business has been complying with all government and district health board advice.

According to the Ministry of Health website there are 58 confirmed and probable cases of Covid-19 across the Wellington region's three district health boards.