There has been one new case of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand after two days of no new cases, the Health Ministry has confirmed.
Photo: AFP
The new case is a man in his 40s who arrived in the country on 12 July from Africa.
In a statement, the Health Ministry said he was staying at the Sebel Manukau and tested negative on around day three of his stay, before testing positive on day 12.
The Ministry said today's case reinforced why people were tested twice during their time in managed isolation.
"A second test around day 12 is needed because the infection may take longer to develop in some people. It's an important check used to find out if a person is safe to leave managed isolation."
There were no new cases of Covid-19 in managed isolation facilities both yesterday and Wednesday.
It has now been 83 days since the last case of Covid-19 that was acquired locally from an unknown source.
Two more people have recovered from the coronavirus, so the total number of active cases is 21. The total number of confirmed cases in New Zealand is 1206.
New Zealand's laboratories completed 2830 tests yesterday, including 341 in managed isolation and quarantine facilities.
"Testing remains a crucial part of our overall response to Covid-19 and we all have a part to play," said the Ministry. "If you are offered a swab, then please take up that offer. Thank you to all the people who have taken up the request to be tested."
Global coronavirus infections have surged past 15 million, a Reuters tally shows, with the pandemic gathering pace even as countries remain divided in their response to the crisis.
The five countries with the highest case numbers are the United States, Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa. But the Reuters tally shows the disease is accelerating the fastest in the Americas, which account for more than half the world's infections and half its deaths.