Health Minister Andrew Little told Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB said it was a "significant" issue having 29 staff stood down at Middlemore Hospital. Video / Newstalk ZB
The three patients most at risk of contracting Covid-19 from a man they shared a room with at Middlemore Hospital have returned negative day three tests.
The fellow patients spent hours in the small ward with the man who was initially admitted toa part of the hospital for people with a low risk of Covid-19 but later found to have the virus.
More than 80 patients and 29 staff were potentially exposed.
The earliest day-three test results were all negative on Wednesday night, and more results were due this morning.
Watson said he had apologised to the people who shared the ward.
"They were understandably anxious, upset, confused and wanted some explanation," he said.
One of four wards that were closed because of a risk of Covid-19 having spread through the ventilation have now reopened.
It was deemed "an extremely low risk," Watson said.
The other three wards would have their ventilation systems changed to allow less airflow between them and other parts of the hospital, he said.
Changes had been made to the hospital's Covid-19 screening to now include abdominal pain, which was the man's only symptom when he first arrived, Watson said.