Covid-19 update: No new community cases for third day in row

1:41 pm on 30 January 2021

There have been no new community cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand today, with just one new case in managed isolation.

Coronavirus COVID-19 medical micro model

Photo: 123rf.com

There was no media conference today. In a statement, the Ministry of Health said the total number of active cases in New Zealand was now 71.

The one new case arrived from the United States on Thursday.

There were no community cases reported yesterday, after three cases - all linked to the Pullman Hotel - were reported earlier in the week.

The ministry said all test results of close contacts of the border-related cases are negative. Of the 352 returnees that left the Pullman between 9 and 24 January, 332 have returned negative results and one infant is not required to test.

"Efforts continue to follow up the remaining 17 people. An additional person that was reported in this group earlier has now been confirmed as having left New Zealand for Australia."

The ministry also said today that new requirements for guests and staff at the Pullman Hotel came into effect today at 12pm.

"These interim measures will be in place while a review is undertaken into how transmission occurred in the Pullman Managed Isolation Facility, and the emerging evidence of Covid variants."

The main changes for returnees are:

After having have had their 11/12-day test, they will be required to stay in their rooms until they get a negative test result and are advised they can depart the facility.
Returnees departing the Pullman will be required to have a day five post-departure test and stay at home until a negative test result is returned.
If they become symptomatic following their departure from the Pullman they need to self-isolate and get a test.
Returnees are required to wear a mask when departing the facility or going for their day five test.

At yesterday's briefing, Minister in charge of Covid-19 Response Chris Hipkins also revealed that a managed isolation staffer had lost their job after an illicit rendez-vous with a returnee at the Grand Millenium Hotel in central Auckland.

The Covid-19 restriction levels have remained the same in the wake of the recent community cases, however they have caused two of Auckland's largest Waitangi Day celebrations to be cancelled.

See RNZ's full coverage of Covid-19

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

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