New Zealand identifies its first coronavirus case – seven months after infection

The infection occurred in late February after exposure to a visitor from Italy but the family suffering symptoms was not tested at the time

Epidemiologist said he had not heard of a case identified by testing so long after a person first fell ill

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New Zealand’s first Covid-19 case was originally believed to have been a person who had travelled to Iran. Photo: AP

Published: 2:42pm, 23 Sep 2020Updated: 3:26pm, 23 Sep 2020

A coronavirus diagnosis has uncovered New Zealand’s first Covid-19 case, seven months after the infection occurred.

“This infection occurred in late February following exposure to an infected person from Italy,” the Ministry of Health said. “At the time the family member was visiting New Zealand, they became ill with symptoms consistent with Covid-19, and the wider household then also became ill.

“At the time, they did not meet the case definition for testing for people with defined symptoms who had travelled from or transited through China. Italy had not at that point been identified as a country of concern. This meant the New Zealand household was not tested at the time.”

The diagnosis was discovered after a man recently developed a sore throat and sought testing. His weak positive result and serology test results and case history indicated an old infection of the virus.

“This would mean that the infected family member from Italy is effectively now the first case we are aware of in New Zealand, as they have reported having symptoms on arrival on February 21, a week before our first reported case on February 28,” the ministry said.

Five other family members have been identified as historical probable cases of the virus.

“Consequently, the other household cases would represent the first locally acquired cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand, given the onset of symptoms from February 29 for the confirmed case,” the ministry said.

The cases all originated in the Waikato region. The ministry said they now present no risk to the public.