Coronavirus case: 'Terrified' grandmother worried she's infected others

Focus Live: Third NZ coronavirus case is Auckland man in his 40s whose family recently travelled to Iran

A "terrified" 79-year-old grandmother who was on a flight with the woman infected with coronavirus says she contacted health officials - and was told someone would be in touch within 48 hours.

The grandmother only learned on Wednesday afternoon that the Palmerston North-Auckland flight on March 2 included a woman in her 30s who tested positive for coronavirus last night.

"She was very scared about the whole thing anyway but now she's terrified," her granddaughter said.

The 79-year-old was now worried that she might have been exposed to the virus.

She had called Healthline to tell them she was on the flight and they said someone would get back in touch with her within 48 hours.

But she was frustrated that they had not been in touch sooner, her granddaughter said.

"It's actually a bit late [for health officials to get in touch] because she's been going to aqua aerobics with all these other people."

The grandmother was now going to stay at home until she was contacted by health officials and is believed to have enough supplies to self-isolate for two weeks if that's required.

"They told her that she needs to stay home, which she will, but it's too late."

The World Health Organisation says anyone who doesn't have symptoms - which are similar to the flu - is not infectious.

CovidFAQ

It was confirmed earlier on Wednesday that the woman infected with Covid-19 had been on holiday in northern Italy and returned to Auckland via Singapore on February 25.

She then took a domestic flight to Palmerston North on March 2 and returned the same day. It's believed she did this because she felt so unwell.

The woman's flight details were released to the public at midday on Wednesday after her tests returned a positive result at 6pm on Tuesday.

The woman's partner has also been sick and his test results were due later on Wednesday.

Covid9

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the infected woman's children currently did not have any symptoms but were in self-isolation.

Officials were talking to the woman and her partner about where they have been and what they've been doing since returning to New Zealand, Bloomfield said.

"The Auckland Regional Public Health Service gets a day-by-day, movement-by-movement description and then does an assessment about whether there is potential for close contact."

Close contact is defined as people in the same row as them on their flights, or two rows in front or behind them, or anyone who was within one metre of them for at least 15 minutes.

Bloomfield noted World Health Organisation advice that people who don't have symptoms aren't infectious.

Key points:

• Second case of coronavirus confirmed by testing on Tuesday night

• Kiwi woman returned to Auckland from holiday in northern Italy via Singapore on February 25. She was on flight NZ0283.

• She then travelled to Palmerston North on March 2 on flight NZ5103 and returned to Auckland on the same day on flight NZ8114

• Westlake Boys' and Westlake Girls' High Schools notified because members of her family have gone to school

• The woman is in self-isolation at home. Her partner is also showing symptoms and is in isolation

• School-aged family members not showing symptoms and are in isolation at home

• Everyone on those flights is being contacted but they can also contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453