19 Apr 2021

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

1:17 pm on 19 April 2021

There are two new cases of Covid-19 in MIQ to report today, both of whom arrived from India before travel from there was suspended, the Ministry of Health says.

Image of flu COVID-19 virus cell. Coronavirus Covid 19 outbreak influenza background. Pandemic medical health risk. 3D illustration concept.

Photo: 123rf.com

In a written statement, the ministry said there were no new community cases. One recovered case brought active cases to 102 and the rolling seven-day average of cases at the border was two.

Both new cases came from India via UAE and were tested on day 12 and 15 of their stay as contacts of other cases, the ministry said.

One was part of a bubble with two previously reported cases and had been transferred to a quarantine facility on 4 April. The other had contact with a confirmed case while in transit and had been tranferred to a quarantine facility, the ministry said.

They both arrived before the suspension of travel from India on 11 April.

One previously reported case was reclassified as "under investigation".

Total confirmed cases is at 2240, with 48 historical cases identified at the border since 1 January.

Laboratories processed 2113 tests yesterday, for a seven-day rolling average of 4266 tests a day.

Today, two-way quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand began, more than a year after Covid-19 closed the country's borders.

The ministry urged Australian visitors to download and use the NZ Covid Tracer app.

Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi today announced the families of critical healthcare staff and a small number of other highly-skilled workers will soon be able to enter New Zealand.

The government is also fixing an anomaly which meant migrant workers who entered the country before the border closed couldn't bring their families, but those who came after could.

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