15 May 2020

One new case of Covid-19 in New Zealand after three days of no cases

3:42 pm on 15 May 2020

New Zealand has recorded one new confirmed case of Covid-19, after three days in a row of no cases.

A technician handles samples from truck drivers testing for COVID-19 coronavirus at the laboratory of Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Busia, a town bordering with Uganda in western Kenya, on May 14, 2020. (Photo by Brian ONGORO / AFP)

Photo: AFP

In a statement released this afternoon, the Ministry of Health said the total number of confirmed and probable cases in New Zealand has risen to 1498, of which 1148 are confirmed.

Today's confirmed case is linked to the Marist cluster in Auckland and was identified through recent follow-up testing of the school community.

The Ministry said the person who tested positive first had symptoms nearly two months ago and had a previous negative test.

The result is considered a 'weak positive' and the person, who has been in isolation through the lockdown period, is not considered infectious now.

There have been no additional deaths.

The ministry said 1421 people have recovered from the coronavirus, up 10 on yesterday. This is 95 percent of all confirmed and probable cases.

There are now just 56 active cases across the country.

Two people are receiving hospital care - one each in Auckland and Middlemore hospitals. Neither are in ICU.

There were 7174 laboratory tests processed yesterday, which brings the total number of tests completed to 216,787.

The Ministry of Health did not hold a media conference today.

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