There have been more new positive cases of Covid-19 aboard the Mattina container ship reported, with three new cases also reported in New Zealand's managed isolation facilities, the Ministry of Health says.
Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
In a statement, the ministry said there were no new community cases.
There was also one historical case of Covid-19 reported in MIQ. The new cases in managed isolation came from Fiji and Ghana.
The Ministry said there were five new cases reported aboard the Mattina, on top of the nine previously reported cases. The five new cases include two reported after 9am today.
"One further result is currently under investigation due to a high CT value; and three more have serological evidence of past infection and therefore are not deemed infectious at this stage."
The three remaining crew have returned negative tests.
The new historical case is a mariner aboard the Noble Island arrived on 12 July and was detected at the point of entry, before being granted shore leave.
"This mariner is not linked to others onboard the previously mentioned vessels. This person is currently quarantining onboard the Noble Island."
The number of active cases in New Zealand is 62 and the total number of confirmed cases is 2479.
The Ministry said all crew who have tested positive will remain quarantined on board the vessel.
"If those who tested negative return another negative test today, they will be transported to a Christchurch-based quarantine facility using a well-planned securely managed transport plan, including the use of Infection Prevention and Control protocols.
"It is safer to manage the smaller group of negative cases, by taking them off the ship."
Travel bubble pauses with NSW, Victoria and South Australia will be reviewed on 27 July, after an increase in cases in those states saw the introduction and extension of lockdowns.
The Ministry said health officials in New Zealand were monitoring developments in Australia and are working closely with their counterparts across the Tasman.
Meanwhile, after the crews of three ships - the Mattina, the Playa Zahara and the Viking Bay - with Covid-19 on board were quarantined in New Zealand, a Royal Canadian Navy frigate is set to visit Auckland early next month without the crew going into MIQ.
The crew, who would have been at sea for 14 days and has been tested on board the vessel at regular intervals, would each be required to return a negative test before disembarking.