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Three more fishermen in managed isolation in Christchurch tested positive for Covid-19.
The latest results, announced by the Health Ministry on Monday, bring to 32 the total number of Russian and Ukrainian fishermen with the virus at the Sudima Hotel in Christchurch.
There were no new community cases of coronavirus in the country. The total number of active cases is 74.
The Sudima Hotel is being used exclusively by Russian and Ukrainian fishermen, who arrived on a charter flight paid for by three major fishing companies.
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* The second flight of the Russian fishermen will probably be delayed to avoid the overcrowding of the MIQ
STACY SQUIRES / Stuff
The Sudima Hotel is the only MIQ facility that manages fishermen from Russia and Ukraine.
The three cases at the hotel were tested on day nine, as they were part of the group that had previously been in close contact with other confirmed cases.
These three are now in quarantine, along with the other sailors who had previously tested positive.
There are 235 foreign fishermen at the Sudima Hotel. The first cases at the facility were confirmed Tuesday, when the facility was closed.
The fishermen had to test negative before boarding their flight to New Zealand. Two were unable to travel due to positive tests.
A second flight with more fishermen was due to depart on November 2, but now it seems likely that it will be delayed.
Health Minister Chris Hipkins previously told RNZ that fishermen on the second flight were likely not to enter Sudima until those on the first flight had left MIQ, to avoid overcrowding.
STACY SQUIRES / Stuff
A member of the Defense Forces patrolling in front of the Sudima Hotel, near the Christchurch airport.
The Government intends to use Sudima as the only hotel for foreign fishermen.
A spokeswoman for managed isolation and quarantine said Thursday that it would take three days to thoroughly clean the hotel before it is suitable for use by fishermen on the second flight.
Bloomfield previously said that health officials continued to explore additional restrictions for the fisherman from the second flight.
Additional tests have been made available to staff and their families at the Sudima Hotel, Christchurch Airport and the bus company that transported the fishermen to the hotel.
New Zealand health officials currently view Russia as a high-risk place.
The Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center reports that there have been more than 1.4 million cases of Covid-19 in Russia and more than 24,000 deaths.
On October 19 alone there were 15,843 new cases.
