The Ministry of Health has confirmed there is one new managed isolation related case in Christchurch in the community tonight.

The case, reported to the Ministry this afternoon, is a staff member working in the Sudima Hotel in Christchurch where the international mariners are in managed isolation and quarantine.

The Ministry of Health released the statement after Chris Lynch Media received messages from concerned hotel workers about the lack of information.

All staff and guests will be re-tested for Covid19.

A staff member told Chris Lynch at least 30 workers are currently at the hotel awaiting for further instructions.

“We’ve been asked to stay in the building until everything has been assessed, and I’m a bit nervous ” the staff member said.

“We’ve been instructed to wipe down all our staff areas and are in full PPE until the nurses tell us more.”

The Ministry of Health said the individual was tested as part of the routine testing for staff in the facility and returned a negative test on Thursday 29 October.

In a press release it says, on Saturday they developed symptoms and sought a further test on Sunday and a positive result was received today.

The person is now in isolation at home and reports taking care to isolate themselves as soon as they developed symptoms.

The first of the international mariners, due to complete their managed isolation on Tuesday morning, will have their managed isolation extended for at least 24 hours as an additional precautionary measure.

Those precautionary measures have included additional tests – up to four tests for some individuals – and an already lengthened stay in managed isolation.