Coronavirus fears

NZ Minister of Health says 'perfectly safe' to attend Pasifika,Polyfest despite coronavirus case

This is the confident response from Minister of Health David Clark after being asked if events like Pasifika and Polyfest should still go ahead, despite the announcement of New Zealand's first COVID-19 coronavirus case.

He says, "we're confident at this stage the chance of any spread into the community is very low, as long as people take the sensible precautions".

Clark says "if anyone is feeling unwell they shouldn't go to a big public event" and they should self-isolate. 

Two Samoan sailors quarantined over coronavirus fears

The sailors had spent two days in China on transit to Samoa and per the Travel Directive issued by the Ministry of Health and approved by Cabinet last Friday.

The Travel Directive states that all travelers originating from or transit through Mainland China, must spend at least 14 days’ self-quarantine at country of last port that is free of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

The sailors had travelled with six Chinese passengers who were refused entry to Samoa and flown back to Fiji where they are being quarantined.