There are no new cases of Covid-19 in recent returnees in managed isolation facilities and no new cases in the community since the Ministry’s last update yesterday.

The seven-day rolling average of new cases detected at the border is one. The total number of active cases in New Zealand today is 21 meaning the total number of confirmed cases is 2,314.

Since January 1 2021, there have been 64 historical cases, out of a total of 498 cases.

Melbourne outbreak
Following last night’s announcement that New Zealand is pausing Quarantine Free Travel with Victoria until Friday, June 4, the Ministry’s contact tracing team emailed around 5,000 people who had travelled from Melbourne between May 20-25.

The email instructed them to get a test and self-isolate at home or in the accommodation they are staying in until they have a negative result. It also instructed them to contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453 if they need further advice or to report if they had been at a location of interest. About 500 of those 5000 people were unable to be reached by email and are being followed up with phone calls and texts.

This follows contact tracers previously contacting everyone who returned to New Zealand from Melbourne since 11 May and providing advice on checking locations of interest and other actions required.

The Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield is now requiring everyone who has visited the Greater Melbourne area since May 20 to isolate at their place of residence until they receive a negative COVID-19 test result. This is an additional precaution. The number of locations of interest around Melbourne has grown substantially, making it difficult for visitors to easily keep track.

"It is critically important everyone keeps a record of where they have been by scanning QR codes or keeping a manual diary of their movements. It can help contact tracers quickly find potential close and casual contacts if there is a positive COVID-19 case in New Zealand," he said.

A Section 70 notice was yesterday issued under the Health Act requiring all arrivees from Melbourne from May 20-25 to self-isolate, contact Healthline and arrange to be tested. This includes both symptomatic and asymptomatic people.

Dr Bloomfield said they recommend travellers from Melbourne call ahead to their testing provider to inform them they need to be tested under Section 70.

This is to help testing providers manage demands on community testing stations. It also notifies providers not to charge as regardless of whether or not people are symptomatic, testing is free for those affected by the Section 70 notice. This includes for visitors to New Zealand.

Auckland public health officials are reporting an increase in demand for testing today. But they advise they have adequate testing capacity across the city, and are ready and able to scale up if demand significantly increases.

For testing locations in Auckland, visit Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS). For all testing locations nationwide visit the Healthpoint website.

Possible symptoms of the variant being found in Melbourne:

The variant of COVID-19 being found in Melbourne is the B.1.617.1 variant which was first reported in India. It is considered more infectious than the original variant.

The typical symptoms to look out for include:
· a new or worsening cough
· fever (at least 38˚C)
· shortness of breath
· a sore throat
· sneezing and runny nose
· and temporary loss of smell.

Some people may present with atypical symptoms, with or without typical symptoms. These include new onset of:
· fever
· diarrhoea
· headache
· myalgia (muscle pain)
· nausea/vomiting
· or confusion/irritability.

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