Rest home locked down for 18 hours over coronavirus threat

Palmerston North rest home was forced to lock down for 18 hours after one of its staff members displayed coronavirus symptoms after having contact with a person recently returned to New Zealand. The Masonic Court staff member had two symptoms of the virus, although the person they'd had contact with had tested negative for Covid-19 and completed a period of isolation. Rest home chief executive Warick​ Dunn said following advice from health authorities, the home decided to close its doors to visitors until test results were returned. It was closed about 6pm on Wednesday and had reopened by midday on Thursday, when the staff member's test came back negative.