Two new imported cases of COVID-19

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. Image: RNZ.

There are two new cases of COVID-19 at the border in New Zealand today.

The first of these cases arrived on October 19 from the Netherlands via Dubai, and the second arrived on October 21 from Doha.

Dr Bloomfield says they were both tested on arrival as they had developed symptoms during the flight, and were transported straight to managed isolation

They are both now in the Auckland quarantine facility.

The total number of active cases is 58, and the total number of confirmed cases 1558.

Yesterday labs processed 7083 tests.

Last night it was announced that a person with COVID-19 went to an Auckland pub on Friday.

Dr Bloomfield says a family member of a person who tested positive also attended Rangitoto College briefly after being tested, but the risk to the community has been assessed as low.

He says the student had tested negative, hence the low risk, he says.

Dr Bloomfield strongly encourages people to use masks on public transport and on flights.

Yesterday there were 25 new cases of COVID-19 of these, 23 are imported cases at the border and two cases are linked to the port worker that was reported on Sunday.

Dr Bloomfield says the two community cases are workplace contacts of the port worker.

They were tested on Friday as part of the routine testing at the port and returned a negative test.

They developed symptoms on Tuesday, took a test and have now returned positive results.

The first case being reported was previously considered a casual contact of the port worker, and only had a short exposure time, he says.

'This new case became symptomatic yesterday, was tested yesterday and returned a positive result.”

The second case, who is also a workplace contact, was previously reported close contact of the port worker.

'The person developed symptoms yesterday, and has returned a positive result.”

Dr Bloomfield says they have been at the Jet Park quarantine facility since Sunday.

He says the ship the original positive case worked on in Auckland is now in Brisbane. It is considered the most likely source of transmission.

Tests have been taken but the results are not yet available and there are 19 crew members on board the ship.

Dr Bloomfield says two previous cases are considered recovered, bringing the total number of active cases to 56.

Yesterday testing labs processed 6308 tests.

-Additional reporting RNZ

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