24 Jan 2021

Covid-19: Health authorities investigating probable community case in Northland

1:30 pm on 24 January 2021

Health authorities are investigating reports of a community case of Covid-19 in Northland.

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Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

In a statement released this afternoon, the Health Ministry said it was investigating a positive test result in a person who has departed from a MIQ facility. More details are expected later this afternoon.

A government spokesman has confirmed the case is being treated as a probable case.

If confirmed, it will be the first community case since November.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield will hold a press conference in Wellington at 4pm.

There were also eight new imported cases reported today. The eight new cases over the past two days came from South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Ethiopia and India.

The total number of active cases in New Zealand is now 79 and the total number of confirmed cases is 1927.

In its previous update on Friday, the Health Ministry reported nine new cases in managed isolation over the previous two days.

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