Covid 19 coronavirus: two new cases of Covid-19 today

There are two new cases of Covid-19, both detected in a managed isolation facility.

One arrived on a flight from Ukraine on Sept. 23 via the United Arab Emirates, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

The other arrived on a flight from Pakistan via the United Arab Emirates, also on September 23.

“They were on the same flight but they weren’t traveling together,” the ministry said.

“Both people tested positive as a result of tests conducted around the third day and were transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.”

There are no new cases in the community.

There are 18 people in isolation at the community’s Auckland quarantine facility, which includes 9 people who have tested positive for Covid-19 and their household contacts.

A person is in the hospital with Covid-19. The patient is isolated in a general ward at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland.

Public health services continue to contact, trace, test and isolate close contacts of three community cases reported on September 23.

There are a total of 44 close contacts associated with those cases, all of which are self-isolating.

All but one have returned negative test results and the remaining result is pending.

The trio is a family group linked to the 9/11 chartered flight from Christchurch to Auckland for people leaving a managed isolation facility after completing their 14-day stay.

Also on the flight was the man who tested positive for Covid-19 over the weekend, whose virus is believed to have had a rare three-week incubation period.

Since August 11, the ministry’s contact tracing team has identified 4,079 close case contacts, all of whom have been contacted and are self-isolating or have completed their self-isolation.

“Our total number of active cases is 55; of them, 29 are imported cases at MIQ facilities and 26 are community cases,” the ministry said.

“Our total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is 1,479, which is the number that we report to the World Health Organization.

“Yesterday our labs processed 3,636 tests, bringing the total number of tests completed to date to 955,590.”

Again, kiwis have been asked to remain vigilant during school holidays to stop any spread of the virus.

When flying to, through or from Auckland, a mask is mandatory. Wearing a mask is also recommended when flying on all other regional routes.

“We must all remain vigilant during these school holidays to stop any spread of Covid-19,” the ministry said.

“While many people will enjoy a break for the next two weeks, it is also important to remember that the Covid-19 virus seizes any opportunity to spread.”

If you are not feeling well during the holidays, the Ministry urges people to call Healthline, their GP or specialist nurse, who can advise on whether a virus test is necessary.

If you are told to have a test, don’t wait until you get home to get tested.

Good hygiene practices should be maintained, including hand washing and drying, or the use of hand sanitizer if you cannot wash your hands.

People should also log into places using the Covid Tracer app or keeping track of where they have been.

“This is especially important during the holidays because you may not remember all the places you have visited,” the ministry said.

There are now 2,283,600 registered users on the NZ COVID Tracer app.

The app has logged a total of 78,171,245 poster scans and users have created 3,412,520 manual journal entries in NZ COVID Tracer.

Deported escapes

Yesterday there were no new cases, however a recent deportee from Australia managed to escape the isolation administered in Auckland.

The chief of managed isolation and quarantine, Air Commodore Darryn Webb confirmed yesterday that a man had escaped from the Ramada Federal St.

The man, who was on his twelfth day in isolation, tied the sheets together before lowering himself four stories to the ground.

The sheet ladder was discovered at 8:20 a.m. M. For on-site security and the fugitive showed up at the front door four minutes later.

Authorities were investigating to establish what time he left the facility. Subsequently, security at the MIQ facilities was reinforced.

The day came when there were no new Covid-19 cases to report.

However, as travel across the country increased this week during school holidays, Kiwis were urged not to be complacent.

“If you have symptoms and are away from home, call Healthline, who can tell you where you can get a test,” the ministry said.

People should continue to maintain good hygiene practices and register when visiting new places, either through the Covid Tracer app or by keeping a log.

A person was also in isolation yesterday in a general ward at Middlemore Hospital.