There are two new cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation and one historic case in New Zealand today.

The Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield provided an update on COVID-19 this afternoon.

There are no new cases in the community.

One of the new cases arrived from Ireland via Dubai on September 29.

The case has been staying at the Sudima Hotel in Rotorua and tested positive on day eight of their stay.

They have now been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

The second case arrived from Hong Kong on October 3 and returned a positive test on day three. They have also been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.

Dr Bloomfield says the historic case is regarded as an older infection that has not been infectious while in New Zealand.

He returned from India on August 27 and tested negative on both day three and day 12 tests.

They completed managed isolation on September 11.

The historic case was re-tested as part of the follow-up to the Christchurch returnee group of cases and returned a weak positive result.

There are 39 active cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand today – all of which are imported.
One person is in Middlemore Hospital with COVID-19, says Dr Bloomfield.

He says people must remember that alert level one is not alert level none.

'There is still an ongoing risk further cases may emerge in the community and our key point here is that alert level one is not alert level none.”

Dr Bloomfield encouraged people to continue the use of masks on public transport and on flights despite the alert level.

With no new COVID-19 cases in two incubation periods, the Ministry of Health is planning to close the Auckland August cluster.

There were three new cases of COVID-19 to report from managed isolation in New Zealand yesterday, and no cases in the community.

The first two cases arrived from Ethiopia via Dubai on September 23.

They have been in managed isolation at the Ibis in Hamilton and tested positive at routine testing around day 12 of their stay.

The third case reported today arrived from Dubai on September 29.