Covid 19 Coronavirus Live Update: Six New Cases, All in Managed Isolation

There are six new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand in the last two days, all in controlled isolation.

The latest update was sent out on Friday when there were 10 new cases in managed isolation.

The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 55 and the total number of confirmed cases is 1760.

The returnees came from South Africa, Australia, the United States and the Netherlands and all had been transferred to quarantine facilities, the Health Ministry said.

The latest update from New Zealand comes as the news from Sydney takes a turn for the worse. There are 30 new cases in the last 24 hours.

The New Zealand government is closely monitoring the Sydney outbreak and is in regular contact with its Australian counterparts.

“New Zealand officials have already increased public health and aircrew-related testing measures to further strengthen our country’s defense against Covid-19,” it said in a statement.

“Among the measures, foreign-based aircrews are required to remain in a managed isolation facility for the duration of their stopover while in New Zealand.”

The government said it was too early to say what the impact would be on any transtasman travel bubble.

Of the New Zealand cases announced today:

One arrived on December 8 from South Africa. This person tested positive for routine tests around the 12th and was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

One case arrived on December 8 from Australia. This person tested positive for routine tests around day 12 and was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

One case arrived on December 10 from the United States. This person tested positive around day 7. They were tested as they are a close contact of an existing case in managed isolation. This person is now in quarantine at a facility in Christchurch.

One case arrived on December 15 from the Netherlands, via Qatar and Australia. This person tested positive for routine tests around day 3 and was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

One case arrived on December 15 from the Netherlands, via Qatar and Australia. This person tested positive for routine tests around day 3 and was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

One case arrived on December 15 from South Africa. This case tested positive during routine testing around day 3 and was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

The Health Ministry also continued to urge New Zealanders to use the Covid Tracer app to track their movements and activate Bluetooth functionality.

“This will allow you to receive an alert if you have been around another user of the application who tests positive for Covid-19.”

The next update of the Ministry of Health will be tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.

Residents of Sydney’s North Beaches face lockdown restrictions for several days as authorities struggle to contain the new outbreak. And there are fears that more Christmas closings will be needed.

Meanwhile, in the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has “canceled Christmas” for millions of people in London and south-east England after scientists said a new variant of the coronavirus is spreading more rapidly.

Johnson announced Sunday that the Southeast areas currently in Level 3 will be moved to a new Level 4, effectively reverting to the November lockdown rules. It is estimated that it affects about 20 million people.

Nonessential stores, gyms, movie theaters, hair salons, and bowling alleys will be closed for two weeks, and people will be restricted from meeting another person from another household in a public outdoor space.

The rest of England will also see the Christmas “bubble” policy, which allows up to three households to meet during the severely restricted holiday period, applying only on Christmas Day.