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Monique Ford / Stuff
Chris Hipkins, the Covid Response Minister, says there are not enough people scanning QR codes during the summer holidays. (File photo)
There are seven new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand.
All were detected in controlled isolation and were transferred to quarantine facilities in Auckland and Christchurch.
The cases came to New Zealand from India, the United States and the United Kingdom.
There are no new cases in the community.
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Tuesday’s update from the Health Ministry comes after 16 cases of the virus were announced on Sunday.
Fourteen were detected in managed isolation, while one was a historical case from May that had been confirmed.
The final case, a member of the air flight support crew, arrived from France on December 22, the ministry said.
Close contact from that person has resulted in a negative Covid-19 test and they have entered self-isolation.
The Health Ministry issued a warning on Tuesday when the summer festival and sports season are in full swing.
SIMON O’CONNOR / Things
People are encouraged to stay tuned amid a summer calendar of big events. Pictured is TSB’s Festival of Lights in New Plymouth.
“To ensure that we can continue to enjoy summer without restriction, we need all New Zealanders to continue to watch for any symptoms of Covid-19 and not attend events if they are not feeling well,” he said in a statement.
Symptoms include new or worsening cough, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, sneezing and runny nose, and temporary loss of smell.
“If you start experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms at an event, don’t stay, take home. Immediately contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or your healthcare professional for advice on whether to get tested.
“If you are advised to have a test, do it; don’t wait to get tested. “
KEVIN’S STENT / THINGS
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says New Zealand’s use of the tracking app over the summer has been lamentable.
People should use the Covid Tracer app to check in for all public transportation or keep track of the times and route they took to get to the event, the ministry said.
On Monday, Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins said that use of the app had been “regrettable” so far during the summer holidays.
“I would tell New Zealanders that there is a reason we are asking you to keep doing this. It’s to make sure that if we need to get in touch with tracking, we can quickly remove any Covid-19 that gets here, “he said.
“If we’re talking about a virus potentially that could be accelerating in the rate at which it can spread, that’s where contact tracing and rapid contact tracing become absolutely essential. So scan the QR codes. “
