2nd February 2022
A Hawke’s Bay Airport Limited corporate staff member has tested positive for Covid-19, after the airport was notified it was a location of interest on Friday 28th January.
On Friday morning, the Ministry of Health notified that anyone at Hawke’s Bay Airport on Monday, January 24, between 5.30am and 6.25am and on Tuesday, January 25 between 9.00am and 9.30am should self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days. If symptoms were to develop, they should get a test and stay at home until they receive a negative test result.
On Friday morning, a staff member who was on annual leave that day started to feel unwell. They immediately got a test and self-isolated with their family. Results of that test were positive for Covid-19, and while it hasn’t been confirmed, it is expected the case will be Omicron.
While at the airport earlier that week, the staff member had been following all safety protocols, including wearing a mask, sanitising and social distancing, and at that time did not feel unwell.
All staff who are considered close contacts of the positive case are currently self-isolating and working from home, and have all received negative results for initial tests. They are currently awaiting results for Day 5 tests. All team members are currently asymptomatic.
Acting Chief Executive, Stephanie Murphy says operations at the airport should not be impacted by the positive case in the airport team.
“We’ve put a huge effort into contingency planning for a situation like this, including separating our corporate team from our Airport Fire Service and carefully following Ministry of Health advice, to ensure operations can be seamless if we had a case,” Mrs Murphy says.
“Unfortunately, within a matter of weeks positive cases will likely become the norm in our region – we are doing everything we can to ensure our team, other airport workers and passengers coming through the airport are as safe as possible given the circumstances.”
“Our focus is now on ensuring our staff member and their family have all the support they need to get through this illness.
“We’d like to thank local Air New Zealand staff in particular who have been incredibly supportive in ensuring seamless service at the terminal,” Mrs Murphy says.