Two new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand today

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There have been two new cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand today, both in isolation. There are now seven active cases in this country.

One of the new cases is the infant child of the couple who tested positive yesterday, and the other is a 59 year old woman who travelled from Delhi.

The Ministry of Health said in a statement they would not provide the exact age of the child who arrived with its parents from India, but it was under two years old.

"We are pleased to report that all family members are doing well at the Jet Park Hotel, the quarantine facility in Auckland."

The second case arrived in Auckland on June 15 on flight AI1316.

"She was tested while at the Grand Millennium managed isolation facility and was travelling with her partner who has also been tested and whose result is pending. Active follow up is now underway.

"An update will be provided on Monday on this case and the follow up of other cases from last week."

The total number of confirmed cases remains at 1161. The combined total of confirmed and probable cases is still 1511.

Yesterday, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said there were two new confirmed cases of the coronavirus in New Zealand - a couple in the 20s who had returned from India with an infant child.

The couple showed no symptoms and returned a positive result after being tested on day 12 of isolation, and taken to the Jet Park quarantine hotel.

On Tuesday it was revealed that two women who had arrived from the UK had tested positive after they were released from isolation on compassionate grounds.

The Ministry said there were 386 people close contacts of the two women who being followed up and tested, and 288 negative tests had now been recorded. 25 people are still being contacted.

Thursday's positive case was a man in his 60s who is in quarantine after arriving from Pakistan.

The Ministry said 207 people were identified for follow up to this case, including those on the same flight. Of those, 25 people have been tested, with 15 negative test results to date.

It said 177 further people will be captured by testing around day 12 in the managed isolation facility. To date, 94 of these people have been tested.

"Efforts continue to follow up the small number of people who we have not managed to reach yet."

Dr Bloomfield said the country can expect more new cases of Covid-19 as New Zealanders return home from overseas.

"It is good that the systems are in place to detect these cases. Testing, particularly at the border, will continue to be an important part of our Covid-19 response.

"Yesterday New Zealand's laboratories completed 5950 tests, bringing the total completed to date to 341,117.

"This is a very high Saturday total, which again underscores the high capacity of our laboratories and the testing that continues in the community and across our managed isolation facilities."

RNZ

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2 comments

What cost?

Posted on 21-06-2020 15:31 | By morepork

While I applaud the efforts being gone to, it seems to me that each case identified is requiring hundreds of follow-ups. There must be significant cost involved in all of this. I think we should insist that people are tested BEFORE they get on the plane. Unless they can show that they were tested and found to be negative within 48 hours of departure, they cannot be boarded. That seems like the only way to protect the flight crew, the other passengers, and, ultimately, all of us. A better form of testing, providing much quicker results, would also be helpful.


Alternatively

Posted on 21-06-2020 19:02 | By Slim Shady

They could do what they have done the last 2 months - not bother with testing and let people mingle and go on their way. It’s all a waste of time and much money. Chill out and let a few cases flow through the population. There won’t be a vaccine cos it’s a cold virus and is changing all the time. Live with it. Stop being spooked and insular. Maybe that’s what Sir Ash had in mind but got rumbled. Now all the frightened little Kiwis are flapping he has to test everybody. There is no sense in this approach but it was all about trumpeting to the world that NZ was Covid free (which it never has been). Putting Chairwomen Adhern on a plinth. Look at us, aren’t we a great team. Total BS


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