There are four further deaths linked to Covid-19 and Director General Health Ashley Bloomfield says it is a "sobering reminder" of what's at stake in the fight against the pandemic.
A Hawke's Bay DHB healthcare worker who went into Napier's Gladys Mary Care Home has tested positive for Covid-19.
There was no increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Hawke's Bay on Tuesday, with the total in the region remaining at 41.
Hawke's Bay District Health Board Medical Officerof Health Nick Jones said of the 41 cases, 35 were confirmed cases and six were probable.
A total of 12 had since recovered.
Jones said Monday's confirmed case, a woman in her 40s, was a Hawke's Bay District Health Board healthcare worker, who had worked at Gladys Mary Care Home, Napier, within its dementia group of residents already placed in isolation away from others.
Public Health said they had identified and followed up all close contacts of the case and there was no wider risk to the public.
The DHB's infectious disease specialist and public health team continue to work closely with Gladys Mary Care Home to mitigate any risk of infection spread within the cluster.
Jones said it remained important people follow simple steps when leaving their bubble during level 4 lockdown.
"Treat anyone and any surface you touch as if infected with Covid-19," he said.
"This means following strict physical distancing of 2m when out of your bubble and remembering you will be touching other surfaces, so it's important not to touch your mouth, nose or eyes and to wash your hands well upon return for at least 20 seconds with soapy water which washes viruses away."
Jones added: "It is very important people do not put their health to one side while we're in level 4 lockdown because health services continue as normal. We do not want people leaving it too long to be seen when they need care as their condition could get worse, so please seek help when you need it."
At the Ministry of Health's coronavirus update on Tuesday, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said there were a total of 17 new cases on Tuesday, with four further deaths linked to Covid-19.
This brings the death toll nationally to nine and the number of cases to 1366.
There were 82 new recoveries from the previous day.
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Parliament's Epidemic Response Committee ealier in the day heard from Australia's Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy on Tuesday, who said New Zealand was lucky that the Ruby Princess cruise ship only made temporary stops in New Zealand.
The cruise ship stopped in Hawke's Bay, Christchurch and Wellington before returning to Sydney on March 19.
Fifteen passengers from the Carnival cruise ship have died, and more than 650 people have been infected.
A Wellington tour guide linked to the Ruby Princess cruise ship was one of two new members of the Ruby Princess cluster to be a confirmed case on Monday.
The tour guide was one of two new members of the Ruby Princess cluster announced on Monday.
On Tuesday, Bloomfield confirmed the other case was a close contact of the tour guide.
The Ruby Princess berthed at the port in Napier on March 15, its last port of call in New Zealand before heading back to Sydney.
Its docking has led to a cluster of 18 Covid-19 cases, many of them in Hawke's Bay, including six at Gladys Mary Care Home in Napier.
A Hawke's Bay DHB spokeswoman said the healthcare worker at Gladys Mary Care Home is considered part of the Ruby Princess cluster, but this linkage would count in the national cluster update on Wednesday.
Napier City Council close Marine Parade observation platform. Photo / Warren Buckland
MARINE PARADE VIEWING PLATFORM CLOSED
Napier City Council has closed its Marine Parade viewing platform for the duration of the lockdown.
Plastic barriers and a large "closed" sign have been erected at the entrance to the popular attraction.
An NCC spokeswoman said the observation platform was initially closed to the public due to heavy swells.
"As it is a popular sightseeing spot, it has remained closed to lessen the risk of people gathering there and breaking the social distancing rules," she said.
