There are four new cases of Covid-19, all in managed isolation, reported in New Zealand today.
Photo: 123rf.com
Two of the new cases are part of the same family who arrived in New Zealand on 9 December from the Czech Republic via Germany and Singapore, the Ministry of Health said in a statement. Both people tested positive on day three and are now in quarantine in a facility in Christchurch.
The ministry said the other two cases travelled together and arrived on 10 December from the United States. Both people tested positive around day 3 and are being transferred to quarantine in a facility in Christchurch.
There are no new cases in the community.
Seventeen previously reported cases have now recovered, bringing the total number of active cases in New Zealand down to 43.
The total number of confirmed cases is 1744.
There were 1,352,462 Covid-19 tests processed yesterday.
Yesterday the government detailed its resurgence plan in case of an outbreak of Covid-19 over summer, with New Zealanders advised to be prepared to stay put if caught up in an outbreak, but be ready to return home if it had spread widely.
Update on Air NZ aircrew member
Final whole genome sequencing results for the positive Covid-19 case of an Air New Zealand aircrew member who flew from the United States showed the lineage did not match any genomes previously sequenced in New Zealand, the ministry said. The same genome lineage had been reported in the United States.
It said the three aircrew members who are close contacts of the aircrew member who tested positive have returned negative day-five test results.
"A fourth person who is a casual contact was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility as a precaution after developing symptoms. This person has returned a negative test result and remains in the quarantine facility."
Updates over Christmas
The ministry reminded the public it would continue to report any significant developments through the Christmas period.
Its reporting of four times weekly of media updates - on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday - would continue until Wednesday 23 December.
Reporting dates would then be: Sunday 27 December; Tuesday 29 December; Thursday 31 December; Sunday 3 January; Tuesday 5 January; Thursday 7 January and Sunday 10 January.
The reporting schedule for the remainder of January would be provided in the New Year, the ministry said.