COVID-19: Infected person isolating at home goes missing, police search underway

Police say a South Auckland woman who has tested positive for COVID19 has refused to engage with health officials and they're trying to locate her.

Speaking to reporters, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said officials hadn't been able to get in touch with the person - and asked for police assistance to locate them.

Dr Bloomfield said the person will be taken to a quarantine facility once they are found.

"It's someone who has been tested and their result has come in, and the public health unit hasn't been able to locate them as yet." 

Dr Bloomfield said he didn't have information to suggest the person was known to police or have a criminal record.

"It was very much a last-minute update I got before I came down [to the press conference].

"The public health team is following up every single case… and all contacts are being followed up at the moment, so there is still an active and aggressive public health effort to follow up cases and isolate, and test contacts."   

There were 55 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Wednesday - 53 in Auckland and two in Waikato.