When an Auckland school classroom went up in flames in December last year, exploding asbestos over neighbouring houses, five separate government agencies were involved. Yet stressed residents dealing with the aftermath on their homes say the response felt chaotic and uncoordinated; even local MPs who got involved couldn t get the information they wanted. Hundreds of thousands of buildings in New Zealand contain asbestos. Homes, schools, hospitals, offices, factories. It’s largely safe when contained, but potentially harmful when disturbed, particularly when that’s caused by fire, which can make the asbestos panels explode. Nikki Mandow wonders if the Ponsonby Intermediate School fire is a wake-up call for a future - potentially worse - asbestos disaster. And if so, is anyone listening?
The latest community Covid-19 patient is highly likely to have caught the disease directly from a person on the same floor as her in managed isolation.
In a news briefing this afternoon, minister in charge of the Covid-19 response Chris Hipkins said genomic testing has shown the 56-year-old woman has the South African variant of the disease (B.1.3.5.1.) and that it is identical to another person staying on the same floor as her at the Pullman Hotel.
That person tested positive shortly before the woman left the hotel at the end of her stay. Early information suggests the transmission occurred between 9 January and 13 January.
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