31 Mar 2021

Covid-19: Two new cases in MIQ, none in community - ministry

1:24 pm on 31 March 2021

Two new cases of Covid-19 have been found in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ), with no new cases in the community, the Ministry of Health says.

Samples awaiting testing for novel coronavirus Covid-19, are pictured at Biogroup Laboratory's lab in west London on January 21, 2021.

Photo: AFP

In a written statement, the ministry said both new cases arrived from India via UAE on 28 and 29 March respectively.

One person who had been included in the 344 returnees who required additional monitoring after what appeared to be transmission inside an MIQ facility, the Grand Mercure, had left the country, the ministry said.

Of the 343 returnees remaining, 340 had been contacted and negative tests had been returned for all but 12 people. One of those 12 had refused a test, and was being appropriately managed, with advice from public health staff, the ministry said.

The 11 remaining results would be monitored.

The seven-day rolling average of new cases detected at the border was four. The recovery of 10 more people brings active cases in New Zealand to 72, with total confirmed cases at 2141.

It said 6096 tests were processed yesterday, bringing the seven-day rolling average for tests to 5029.

The number of historical cases detected at the border since 1 January remained at 42.

Earlier today, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The two ministers received the jab in an effort to publicly reinforce its safety and effectiveness to help combat vaccine hesitancy.

Yesterday, the ministry announced two new cases of Covid-19 in people in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities, and no new community cases.

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