New Zealand’s fourth coronavirus case attended American band Tool’s concert in Auckland

The man attended was among metal fans in the moshpit at Spark Arena on February 28 and contact tracing is being done, health authorities say

New Zealand so far has four confirmed cases of the coronavirus, a much smaller number than Australia

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A view of Auckland. New Zealand health authorities said a man who tested positive for Covid-19 had attended a rock concert in the city on February 28. Photo: Handout

Published: 1:57pm, 6 Mar 2020Updated: 5:24pm, 6 Mar 2020

A person in New Zealand confirmed to have been infected with the new coronavirus attended a packed rock concert with thousands of other people, it was revealed on Friday.

Health authorities said the man in his 30s, who is the partner of a woman who was confirmed to have Covid-19 this week, attended the Tool concert at Spark Arena in Auckland on February 28.

The rock concert in New Zealand’s largest city was packed to capacity for two days last week.

New Zealand’s director general of health, Ashley Bloomfield, gives an update on the country’s response to the Covid-19 coronavirus. Photo: New Zealand Herald

“He was in the general admission standing area in the front left-hand quadrant,” Ministry of Health director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said at a news conference. “We encourage people who were in the general admission standing area to be aware of symptoms of Covid-19.”

Bloomfield said the risk is low for all others who attended this concert.

The man and his partner had recently arrived back in the country from northern Italy. Air New Zealand on Wednesday confirmed a passenger who travelled on board a Singapore to Auckland flight after previously being in Italy had tested positive for coronavirus, becoming the country’s second confirmed case. There are over 3,800 cases in Italy.