Coronavirus Covid-19: update of today’s case numbers from the Ministry of Health

Health officials are ready to reveal the latest Covid-19 cases and an update on the test numbers.

There is no press conference scheduled for today, but the Ministry of Health will publish a press release around 1 pm with the latest issues.

Yesterday five new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed: four were in the community and one in controlled isolation.

All four were linked to the Auckland group and epidemiologically linked to the Mt Roskill Evangelical Church group.

Meanwhile, a person from Christchurch who was discussed on Saturday as under further investigation has now been confirmed as not a Covid-19 case.

The investigation has been closed, the ministry said.

Yesterday, the government unveiled new rules that would impose a $ 1,000 fine on border workers who refuse weekly or biweekly Covid-19 testing.

The new order sets in motion periodic testing of workers in the future.

Starting this week, workers at a quarantine facility will be screened once a week, as will workers transporting foreign arrivals to and from the facility.

Workers in a managed isolation facility and those who drive returnees to and from those facilities will be assessed once every 15 days.

Government workers facing borders, including immigration, customs, primary industries and aviation security officials, will be screened once every fortnight, as will DHB workers and food and retail workers and drinks at the airport.

Airport workers who handle international baggage carts, airport cleaners and airline workers who interact with passengers will also be screened once every fortnight.