A letter sent to residents’ relatives and contacts last night confirmed a positive case of Covid-19 at Amberlea Hospital and Rest Home in Mahurangi East Road Alies Bay.

The staff member is a household contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19 and went into self-isolation earlier this week as a precaution before test results were available.

The rest home will be conducting surveillance testing for all staff and residents via a mobile testing unit.

“Staff members who have been working closely with the positive staff member have gone into self-isolation and will only return to work once cleared by Public Health,” her message said. “We are working to ensure we have adequate staffing levels to continue to take care of all our residents.”

Residents who were close contacts of the staff member are currently being identified by Public Health and will go into precautionary isolation.

Ms Hall says any residents who go into precautionary isolation will continue to receive the very best care and their health will be closely monitored for symptoms.