Sixteen cases of Covid-19 at border in four days
There has been an average of around four cases of Covid-19 per day in the past four days in New Zealand since Wednesday, December 23.
There are no new cases in the community but one historical case in the community from seven months ago has now been confirmed.
During the past four days, there has been a total of 16 cases.
· One case arrived on December 17 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 December 19 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 December 20 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 December 20 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.
· One case, an air flight support crew member, arrived on December 22 from France. This person tested positive following routine testing on day two and has been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility. One close contact has been identified and that person has returned a negative result and is in self-isolation.
· Two cases arrived on December 21 from the United States. They tested positive at routine testing around day three. Both have been transferred to quarantine in a facility in Christchurch.
· One case arrived on December 22 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 December 22 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 December 22 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 December 22 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 December 22. 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 December 24 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.
· One historical case from May is now being confirmed after having been investigated. 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 the 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.
Fifteen previously reported cases have now recovered. The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 50 and the total number of confirmed cases is 1,788.
The total number of tests processed by laboratories to date is 1,394,812.
