Filthy clothes in quarantine, another coronavirus death, and a rare black turtle saved

If this email is not displayed correctly, [click here]( to view an online version. The last official Covid-19 death was announced by Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield on May 6 A 96-year-old Auckland woman has been [confirmed as New Zealand's 22nd coronavirus-related death](. An obituary published in the New Zealand Herald on Wednesday said CHT St Margarets Rest Home resident Eileen Margaret Hunter died "due to Covid-19" on Sunday. The death notice described Hunter as "a beautiful lady with a heart of gold". Director General of Health Doctor Ashley Bloomfield confirmed Hunter was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-April and spent time at Waitākere and North Shore hospitals. Hunter was taken back to St Margarets after returning two negative coronavirus tests and was considered to have recovered, Bloomfield said. But after further consideration, the Ministry of Health ruled coronavirus didn't cause her death, but it would be included in the ministry's count of deaths related to Covid-19. Bloomfield said he was confident Hunter had recovered from the virus prior to her return to the rest home. "I have full confidence in their judgement," he said of the nurses who cared for her. Getting clothes washed in quarantine now costs $5 per item. A Kiwi [quarantined in an Auckland hotel]( guests are being left to live in "filthy" clothes after the Ministry of Health changed its laundry policy. Until Monday, people staying in quarantine and managed isolation facilities could get their washing done free of charge. That changed on Monday night, with a notice stapled to guests' dinner bags. It informed guests that "effective immediately", only one bag — five items — would be covered during their 14-day stay. Over that, guests will be charged $25 per bag of five items, which can include underwear, shirts and t-shirts. On the government's Covid-19 website, people due to travel to New Zealand are told to bring "around a week's worth" of clothes. It says there will be laundry facilities at the hotel; no cost is mentioned. On Wednesday, the ministry increased the laundry allowance from one bag of five items to two, saying it had "listened to the feedback that guests have provided". "If a guest is unable to pay for any additional cleaning that’s required, our welfare team is available to help with funding on a case-by-case basis." Auckland Transport said drivers will leave passengers behind if public transports reach maximum capacity to allow for physical distancing. Students are being [left out in the cold]( stranded at the roadside because there aren't enough spaces on public buses for physical distancing, parents say. Schools such as Kaipara College, in north-west Auckland, are having to deal with late arrivals or no shows from students because of this issue. Tania Dicks-Maurice, a parent at the school, said the first week the school re-opened in alert level two was fine, but the second week posed problems. She said her son was one of more than 20 students that were forced off the 125 bus after tagging on because the driver had changed his mind when he realised there was no room for physical distancing. Auckland Transport said drivers will leave passengers behind if public transports reach maximum capacity to allow for physical distancing. At level two, physical distancing restrictions in buses, trains and ferries meant only a 43 per cent seated capacity. Some Kaipara College students rely on public transport to get to school because they live out of the school's transport zone. AT said it was exploring options to add additional capacity onto the routes. Enjoying this email? [Check out Stuff's other daily and weekly newsletters](. Josiah Mika, 9, died from a rare epileptic seizure just three weeks after being diagnosed with the condition. [An Auckland boy]( died from a rare form of epilepsy that was likely brought on by the common cold. In the moments before he died, 9-year-old Josiah Mika was surrounded by whānau who sang hymns in hushed tones. The melodies drifted through the halls at Auckland's Starship Hospital intensive care unit, where he spent two weeks battling a rare form of the condition that affects just one in a million children. Groups of 10 family members and friends took turns to sit at Josiah's bedside, using their brief time to share their fondest memories. In Papakura, south Auckland, family adorned the lounge in golden fairy lights in preparation for Josiah's return. He spent three nights at home, before heading to Te Hokowhitu-A-Tu marae in Whakatāne, for his final farewell. Friends brought flowers and food, they sent messages and offered help, they cried, they laughed, and they grieved. Those moments brought comfort to his parents Julia and Jerome Mika, who have had to navigate their son's death in the midst of a global crisis. Josiah fell ill just days into alert level 3. By May 1, he was admitted to Starship Hospital and diagnosed with Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome, a condition is so rare, the specialist treating Josiah had treated just one other patient with the condition. The sign in the kitchen at Circus Circus, in Mt Eden, is visible to customers. A popular Auckland cafe has been criticised for [telling employees to speak English at all times]( of respect for colleagues". TK Martin, took a photograph of the sign, at Circus Circus cafe, in Mt Eden, which was visible to customers from the kitchen, and posted the image to Twitter, saying it was "uncomfortable to read as a customer". "The sign was very visible from where I was sitting and it sparked a conversation between my partner and I. The majority of people who work at Circus Circus don't have English as their first language, it's quite a multicultural place so the sign seemed quite odd, it just didn't feel right." The Human Rights Commission stated it was "an internationally recognised human right" to use one's language in the workplace. "Under the Human Rights Act, it is unlawful for an employer to treat an employee less favourably because of their ethnicity or national origin." Cafe general manager Nixon Sherchan said the sign was put up after he received complaints from some staff that they did not understand their colleagues. In a Facebook post, [the cafe said it "meant no malice or racism".]( run a busy commercial kitchen, and everyone communicating in a common language is safe and efficient practice. We are aware that this has caused concern and we have removed the sign." The 26kg black turtle remains in a critical condition. A black turtle found [washed up on an Auckland beach]( is critically ill. The turtle was found at Takapuna Beach, on the North Shore, on Wednesday morning. It was taken to Auckland Zoo's vet hospital by Department of Conservation staff in a "collapsed" and "dehydrated" condition with a body temperature well below what it should be. It also had scrapes on its underbody and a wound on top of its shell. The zoo's head of vet services Dr James Chatterton said the turtle was a long way from home. “This turtle species is naturally found near Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands, so is a very long way from home, and the next three days are going to be critical for it. Chatterton said the priority was to get the turtle stabilised, and staff were doing this by slowly warming it up to its normal 24-degree body temperature. "[We are also] hydrating with fluids, and giving pain relief and other medications, all of which will help rehydrate and re-energise its body and get its vital organs, like liver and kidneys, functioning again”. X-rays have also been taken of the 26 kilogram turtle to give medical staff a better understanding of what diseases are present. Chatterton said by the time any turtle species washes up, it is too weak to swim and is critically ill. Black turtles are regularly seen around the Rangaunu Harbour. You've received this email because you have opted in to receive Auckland news updates from Stuff Did a friend forward this to you? [Sign up to get Auckland News: In case you missed it]( to your inbox [Unsubscribe]( [Newsletter Settings]( [Privacy Policy]( [Advertise]( [Feedback](