Seven new cases of Covid-19 today, all in managed isolation facilities

There are seven new cases of Covid-19 today, all in managed isolation facilities.

In a statement this afternoon, the Ministry of Health says there are no new community cases.

It says, with the exception of one arrival from Uzbekistan, all new cases were detected as a result of day 3 testing and are now in quarantine.

The new cases are:

• A woman in her 30s who arrived from the United States on 12 September and was in managed isolation in Wellington.
• A man in his 60s who arrived from India on 12 September and was in managed isolation in Auckland.
• A man in his 30s who arrived from India on 12 September and was in managed isolation in Auckland.
• A woman in her 20s who arrived from India on 12 September and was in managed isolation in Auckland.
• A man in his 40s who arrived from Indonesia on 12 September and was in managed isolation in Christchurch.
• A child aged between 1 and 4 years who arrived from India on 12 September and was in managed isolation in Auckland.
• A woman in her 50s who arrived from Uzbekistan on 14 September. She was tested in Auckland after appearing symptomatic.

There are four people in hospital with Covid-19 - one each at Auckland City and North Shore hospitals and two in Middlemore. All are in isolation on a ward. There are no cases in ICU, says the Ministry.

It says there are 54 people linked to the community cluster who remain in the Auckland quarantine facility, including 23 people who have tested positive for Covid and their household contacts.

"Since August 11, our contact tracing team has identified 4,043 close contacts of cases, of which 4,036 have been contacted and are self-isolating, and we are in the process of contacting the rest."

There are also nine additional recovered cases today which brings the total number of active cases in the country to 77. Thirty-three are imported cases in managed isolation facilities and 44 are community cases.

The total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 is now 1,458.

There were 8,185 Covid-19 tests processed yesterday, bringing the total number of tests completed to date to 889,717.

See all RNZ coverage of Covid-19

Covid tracing app

There are now 2,228,300 users registered on the Covid tracing app.

The Ministry said the app has been making a real difference to the work of our contact tracers.

"App uptake was also a key factor in the decision to ease physical distancing requirements for public transport so it's great when people have it, and use it."

"To date, a total of 18 contact alerts have been issued through the app to let people know they may have been exposed to Covid-19 so they can take appropriate steps to protect themselves, their whānau and the community."

The Ministry says that includes four people related to the recent case involving a health worker at the Auckland quarantine facility.

Yesterday the Ministry reported another Covid-19 death. Nigel Huirama Te Hiko died at Waikato Hospital, almost two weeks after his elder brother Alan succumbed to the virus.

One new case in managed isolation was reported yesterday.

A South Auckland primary school is closed after a child tested positive for Covid-19. Chapel Downs School in Flat Bush will not be re-opening until early next week while close contacts are being identified and classrooms cleaned.

• If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP - don't show up at a medical centre