There are 16 new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand today, all in managed isolation facilities.
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In a statement the Ministry of Health said there has been an average of around four cases per day in the past four days of Covid-19 at the border since the ministry's last media statement on Wednesday.
The ministry said there are no new cases in the community but there is one historical case in the community from seven months ago now confirmed.
"The person, based in Christchurch, returned a weak positive result in May, the results from additional testing were inconclusive and it was determined the case was likely to be historical at time of diagnosis.
"At the time, the person was a close contact of a family member who had recently returned from overseas and was in self-isolation at home as managed isolation facilities were yet to be established. The person was fully recovered in May and is now being recorded as a community case to formally close off the investigation," the ministry said in a statement.
Of the new cases reported today eight arrived from India between 19 and 24 December and three came from the United States.
An air flight support crew member who arrived on 22 December from France tested positive on day two. The person has been moved to Auckland's quarantine facility.
A close contact returned a negative result but remains in self-isolation.
Other cases are:
- One case arrived on 17 December from the United States. The person tested positive on day seven as they were a close contact of another case on the same flight. This person is now in quarantine in a facility in Christchurch.
- One case arrived on 19 December from India via the United Arab Emirates. This person tested positive at routine testing around day three and has been transferred to Auckland's quarantine facility.
- Two cases travelling together arrived on 20 December from India via the United Arab Emirates. They tested positive at routine testing around day three. They have both been moved to Auckland's quarantine facility.
- Two cases, travelling separately, arrived on 20 December from India via the United Arab Emirates and tested positive from routine testing around day three. Both people have now been transferred to Auckland's quarantine facility.
- Two cases arrived on 21 December from the US. They tested positive at routine testing around day three. Both have been transferred to quarantine in a facility in Christchurch.
- One case arrived on 22 December from Pakistan via Qatar and Australia. This person was symptomatic and tested positive on day one. The person has been transferred to Auckland's quarantine facility.
- One case arrived on 22 December from Malaysia via the United Arab Emirates. The person tested positive at routine testing around day three and has been transferred to Auckland's quarantine facility.
- One case arrived on 22 December from India via Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. The person tested positive at routine testing around day three and has been transferred to Auckland's quarantine facility.
- One case arrived on 22 December from India via the United Arab Emirates. The person tested positive at routine testing around day three. The person has been transferred to Auckland's quarantine facility.
- One case arrived on 22 December. The last leg of their journey was from Singapore but their country of origin is yet to be confirmed. The person tested positive at routine testing around day three and has now been transferred to Auckland's quarantine facility.
- One case arrived on 24 December from India via the United Arab Emirates. The person was tested on day one as they were symptomatic. The person has been transferred to Auckland's quarantine facility.
Fifteen previously reported cases have now recovered. The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 50. The country's total number of confirmed cases is 1788.
At the ministry's last update on Wednesday 23 December seven new cases were reported, all in managed isolation.
The ministry plans to provide Covid-19 updates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays until at least 10 January.
Overseas, cases of the more contagious variant of Covid-19 identified in the UK have been confirmed in several other European countries, while some New Zealanders in the UK pleaded with the government for help to get home.