Vessel with close contacts of new Covid-19 case anchored in Hawke Bay

The Ken Rei logging ship is anchored off Napier. Photo / Ian Cooper

A ship carrying workers who have been in close contact with a new Covid-19 case in the New Zealand community is set to be met by health officials in Napier.

The logging ship Ken Rei was this

afternoon anchored off Napier's coast, seemingly awaiting direction from authorities.

Dr Ashley Bloomfield told a press conference today that a male port worker from Auckland, who went to New Plymouth for work this week, had tested positive for Covid-19 on October 16.

He said the people from the vessel Ken Rei that the man worked on in New Plymouth are being treated as close contacts, and the vessel was on its way to Napier Port.

"The public health unit in Napier and other port authorities there will work carefully and closely to get in place plans to isolate and test the crew there ... no one on board is symptomatic at this time," Bloomfield said.

He said the case had been caught early and the risk of onward transmission had been quickly contained.

A Hawke's Bay DHB spokeswoman said the DHB was working closely with the Ministry of Health and the ship remained offshore this afternoon.

A Napier Port spokesperson said the port was notified this morning that the vessel was heading to Napier.

"The vessel is at anchor, it is not coming into Napier Port.

"We will facilitate the public health unit to get medical staff onboard if required and will follow any border directive we receive from the Ministry of Health."