An Auckland woman, now confirmed as the second coronavirus case in New Zealand, took three flights and visited two medical centres in the days before her diagnosis was confirmed.

Ministry of Health's director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said the second case of covid-19 was a woman in her 30s who had recently returned from Italy. The case was confirmed on Tuesday night.

The woman was in self-isolation at home, with clinical support, and did not need hospital help. She developed symptoms in New Zealand, once she had arrived.

The woman's partner was also showing symptoms. Bloomfield said he was expecting the test result for the woman's partner on Wednesday.

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The woman had travelled on Air New Zealand flight NZ0283 from Singapore to Auckland on February 25. Other passengers on the flight sitting within two rows of the woman were now being contacted.

She also took domestic flights from Auckland to Palmerston North, and back again, on March 2. The ministry would contact people on these flights as well, Bloomfield said.

The flights were Air NZ Flight 5103, from Auckland to Palmerston North, which departed around 8am, and Air NZ flight 8114, returning around 2.30pm the same day.

He said any passenger on any of the three flights could get in touch with Healthline.

ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF Ministry of Health's Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield has been fronting the coronavirus response.

Were you on the flight? Do you know more? Contact stuff on newstips@stuff.co.nz

Two medical centres and two schools had also been contacted for possible contact with the woman. The schools were Westlake Boys High School and Westlake Girls High School in Auckland, which the woman's children attend.

The children were also in self-isolation but are showing no symptoms. There were no plans to close either school.

"They did not travel to Italy, they are both well, and they are both being monitored."

Bloomfield said despite the second case being confirmed, with continued vigilance, the chance of widespread community outbreak was expected to remain low.

The number of people the woman had been in contact with was small, and the Ministry was working to trace those people, he said.

People who had been in contact with her and her partner were also being traced.

"She has been largely at home because she has been feeling unwell.

"This is a Kiwi family that has been affected by a virus that is part of a worldwide outbreak. What they need is support and understanding."

Air NZ chief medical officer Ben Johnston said the airline had anticipated and planned for a second case.



"We are working closely with the Ministry of Health to identify and proactively contact customers from these flights.

"This includes utilising our own Contact Centre staff. The health and safety of passengers and crew is Air New Zealand's top priority and our aircraft already undergo a thorough cleaning process, which includes cleaning surfaces such as tray tables and in-flight entertainment screens with a disinfectant that kills viruses.".

In a statement from Softball NZ, two New Zealanders officiating at a softball tournament in Whenuapai involving police and military this week had travelled on the Air NZ flight 8114 from Palmerston North to Auckland.

"They left the base when told that a person with coronavirus had been on their Air NZ flight.

"They are showing no symptoms of coronavirus and do not feel unwell. They have registered with the Ministry of Health's coronavirus helpline and have been told by health officials they do not need to self-isolate at this stage."

Softball NZ would continue to monitor the pair's health and work with the Ministry of Health.

New Zealand's first coronavirus case was confirmed last week.

That patient, in their 60s, was a citizen of New Zealand who had been to Iran and flown back to New Zealand via Bali.

There are now more than 90,000 cases of covid-19 worldwide, and more than 3000 deaths. Most cases reported have been in mainland China, but increasingly new outbreaks are occurring elsewhere, including South Korea, Iran and Italy.

New Zealand was the 48th country to have a confirmed case.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a recently discovered coronavirus. It spreads via droplets from the nose or mouth expelled when a person with the disease coughs, sneezes or exhales. To avoid infection, people should stay at least a metre away from someone who has, or may have, the virus.

MARCO DI LAURO/GETTY IMAGES Two passengers wear protective masks as they travel on a train from Rome to Milan in Italy.

The viral incubation period, that is time between catching the virus and showing symptoms, ranges between 1-14 days.

The most common symptoms are fever, tiredness and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. Some people become infected but don't develop symptoms or become unwell.

From what we know thus far, about four in five people recover without needing special treatment. About one in six become seriously ill and develop difficulty breathing. About one in 50 die.

The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms is very low, because the virus spreads via droplets expelled by coughing. However, it is possible to catch the disease from someone with very mild symptoms, including a cough.

To minimise the spread of infection, wash your hands thoroughly with an alcohol-based rub or soap and water, cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and keep at least a metre away from other people coughing and sneezing.

People who have been in or transitted through China, Iran, northern Italy or the Republic of Korea, or have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, should self-isolate for 14 days from the date of departure or close contact. They should also register with Healthline (0800 358 5453).