There are 10 new cases of Covid-19 are being reported in managed isolation facilities in New Zealand today.
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There are no new community cases.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health said two cases had recovered, and with the new cases total active cases were at 51 and total confirmed cases were at 1754.
The new cases:
- One person arrived on 4 December from Netherlands via Singapore and tested positive around day 12.
- One person arrived on 5 December from Italy via the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and tested positive around day 12.
- Two people arrived on 10 December from the United States and tested positive around day three.
- Two people travelling separately arrived on 12 December from India via the UAE and tested positive around day three.
- Four people arrived on 13 December from Germany via UAE and Malaysia; UK via UAE; the UK; and one person whose travel itinerary is still being confirmed.
All cases have been moved to quarantine facilities in Auckland and Christchurch.
See RNZ's full coverage of Covid-19
[https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/433132/govt-to-pump-almost-3-billion-into-its-covid-19-response-after-report-identified-failings Almost $3 billion more is to be put into the government's Covid-19 response after a report identified failings with its testing strategy.
The Roche-Simpson review was commissioned in August, after revelations many border staff were not being tested for Covid-19, and found problems with communication, accountability, and clarity in the testing framework.
In the ministry's statement, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said all the 13 recommendations in the surveillance and testing report had been implemented or were under way, and a response was under way for each of the 15 recommendations in the contact tracing addendum.
"The response has not been without flaws, but the Ministry and wider system have learnt, reviewed and adjusted along the way to continually improve our response," he said.
The ministry also released the results of two audits of its infection prevention and control at all 32 managed isolation and quarantine facilities.
The statement said the requirements, laid out in standard operating procedures to be used at all facilities and taking into account individual circumstances, were continually updated.
It said the majority of recommendations were addressed within two weeks of the findings, and future similar audits using the results would be conducted regularly.
- 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
