New Zealand: A second Omicron case has been in the community, the Ministry of Health has confirmed.

The case is an Air New Zealand crew member who worked on a flight between Auckland and Sydney on December 24. The fully vaccinated crew member was tested for Covid-19 in routine surveillance testing on 27 December, the Ministry said. The case, who was immediately transferred to an MIQ facility, is linked to three other Omicron cases who were on the same flight. Air New Zealand Chief Medical Officer Dr Ben Johnston said as well as the positive case, other crew were also isolating and awaiting test results, but he declined to say how many. “There are significant precautions in place for our crew operating to international destinations set out by the Ministry of Health, and we are confident that our people are following the protocols diligently,” he said. “These include wearing PPE through the airport and on board. On duties across the Tasman, aircrew remain airside and operate back to New Zealand on the return flight. Aircrew are also subject to regular surveillance testing where they are tested up to once every seven days.”<br/>