Air New Zealand Covid-19 Case Was Returning From Italy
On 4 Mar, Air New Zealand confirmed a Covid-19 case was on board their flight from Singapore to Auckland on 25 Feb, reported The Straits Times.
The passenger had reportedly been on 3 separate flights.
Travelled back and forth between Auckland and Palmerston North
According to Air New Zealand’s press release, the patient had travelled from Singapore to Auckland first on flight NZ283 on 25 Feb.
Auckland airport
Source
A few days later on 2 Mar, she flew from Auckland to Palmerston North and returned to Auckland within the same day.
In total, that accounted for 3 separate flights.
Airplanes are deep-cleaned thoroughly
Air New Zealand confirms that the affected planes will undergo a deep clean.
Image for illustration purposes
Source
In addition, after every international flight, they will remove all headsets, headrest covers, pillow covers, and blankets.
The airline claims that hygiene procedures have long been in place, as they clean “surfaces such as tray tables and inflight entertainment screens with a disinfectant that kills viruses”.
Singapore banning entry to travellers from northern Italy
TV NZ reported that the patient was returning home from a trip to northern Italy. Northern Italy has been hard-hit by Covid-19, with Milan having 38 deaths as of Tuesday (3 Mar), according to CNA.
From 4 Mar, Singapore will ban new visitors with recent travel history to northern Italy within the last 14 days from entering or transiting through Singapore.
Northern Italy refers to these regions — Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
Contact tracing underway
Air New Zealand is working with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to trace passengers on the flight, and any other close contacts.
Hopefully, everyone else on the affected flights remain healthy.
Let’s all take care of our health and visit the doctor immediately if we feel unwell.
Featured image adapted from Star Alliance.
