26 Jun 2020

Covid-19 update: One new case in managed isolation

1:27 pm on 26 June 2020

There is one new case of Covid-19 in New Zealand in managed isolation at an Auckland hotel.

Covid-19 coronavirus particles, illustration. The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (previously 2019-CoV) emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

An illustration of Covid-19 coronavirus particles. Photo: AFP

There are 14 active cases of the novel coronavirus and a total of 1170 cases.

All of the active cases are in quarantine and there are no cases in the community.

The new case is a man in his 30s who tested positive for Covid-19 during the routine testing on day three.

He arrived in New Zealand on 21 June from Kenya, via Doha and Brisbane.

He has been staying at the Novotel Ellerslie and will be moved to the Jet Park Hotel today.

There was no media conference from the Health Ministry today. In a statement, it said 9825 tests were carried out yesterday, and the total number of tests completed so far is 378, 257.

Three new cases of Covid-19 in managed isolation confirmed in New Zealand - two in Christchurch and one in Rotorua - were announced yesterday.

Following up on compassionate exemptions

The ministry also said it had concluded its follow-up with the group of 55 people who were granted an exemption from managed isolation on compassionate grounds between 9 June and 16 June.

Of the 55, 40 have returned negative results, one had their approval withdrawn and 14 people will not be tested: either on the basis of health, because they are a child, they have declined, they can no longer be contacted, or they have left the country.

The ministry also revealed further details on the 2159 people who had left managed isolation between 9 and 16 June, and said 71 people have refused testing. 

It said 1186 people had been contacted and had tested negative for the coronavirus; 800 of those were tested before leaving managed isolation and the remaining 386 were tested after leaving the facility.  

Another 199 people have been referred for a test which have not had results yet.

"We are still in the process of connecting with 632 people. As needed we will refer people we do not make contact with to finding services. 164 of these had invalid phone numbers, so have been referred to finding services. 

"We have had 142 people who will not be tested because of reasons such as being a child, being part off repositioning crew, currently being overseas or they are refusing a test."

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