Today’s Covid 19 coronavirus update: nine new cases, all in managed isolation

Today there are nine new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand, all in controlled isolation, as the kiwis return home before Christmas.

Today there are no new community cases, the Ministry of Health reported in a statement.

There are 50 active cases in New Zealand.

A total of 6504 tests were carried out yesterday.

Today’s cases among recent returnees come from eight countries, which the ministry says is a sign of how the pandemic continued to devastate parts of the world.

“Isolation and mandatory testing will continue to be critically important as large numbers of New Zealanders return home before the holiday period,” the ministry said.

The nine new cases:

• One person arrived from France on November 17 and tested positive around the third day. They are now in the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One person arrived from the Netherlands on November 17 and tested positive around the third day. They are now in the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One person arrived from Dubai on November 17 and tested positive around the third day. They are now in the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One person arrived from the United States on November 19 and tested positive around the third day. They are now under quarantine in Christchurch.
• One person arrived from the UK on 14 November and tested positive after routine surveillance around day seven. They are now in the Auckland quarantine facility.
• Two people, who were traveling separately, arrived on the same flight from Bangladesh on 10 November and tested positive around the 12th. They are now in the Auckland quarantine facility.
• A person arrived from Spain on November 16 and tested positive around the third day. They are now in the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One person arrived from Italy on November 16 and tested positive around the third day. They are now under quarantine in Christchurch.

Yesterday a new case emerged from the Defense Forces group, bringing the group’s total to six cases.

The new case is a close contact of the Defense Force civilian worker who tested positive earlier this month.

The ministry said the latest case in the Defense Forces group, the sixth case so far, or Case F, had been genome sequenced, confirming a direct link to the group.

Case F has been in isolation since November 7 and is a close contact for Case B, a civilian Defense Forces worker who caught Covid-19 from the Defense Forces service working at Jet’s quarantine facilities. Park in Auckland.

The person is a border worker who has been isolated in a managed isolation facility for the past 10 days as a precautionary measure, and was previously isolated at home.

They had tested negative after five days of isolation, and were retested around day 12. A positive test was reported yesterday.

The ministry encouraged anyone visiting a place of interest during the relevant time period to take the Defense Forces group for testing.

Two pop-up test stations continue to operate in central and eastern Auckland: one at High St and one at 292A Botany Rd (Spectrum House).

“Both locations are walk-in and do not require a reserved appointment,” the ministry said.

“We have the best chance of getting ahead of Covid-19 if everyone who falls ill with cold or flu symptoms stays home and seeks proof quickly, and all New Zealanders keep track of where they have been and who they are. . “

Five other new cases were reported yesterday, but all were imported cases contained in quarantine or managed isolation facilities.

A pop-up test location in central Auckland on High St is open this weekend, as is one in eastern Auckland at 292A Botany Rd (Spectrum House).

This weekend is also a major test for automatic tracking at the Beervana festival in Wellington, where people do not need to scan QR codes individually.

The beacons will be in use, and the test results will help digital agency Paperkite, which is working with the Health Ministry, to decide whether there will be further implementation.