New Zealand has recorded one new case of COVID-19, Dr Ashley Bloomfield has confirmed.
The individual is a man in his sixties. He is located in the Jet Park Hotel quarantine facility in Auckland. He flew from Pakistan to Doha to Melbourne on June 11. He then flew from Melbourne to Auckland on flight NZ124 on June 13.
Officials are contacting people on the Air New Zealand flight. The man was wearing a mask on all flights. Everyone on the June 13 flight will be in a managed isolation facility.
The man wasn't symptomatic when he arrived in the country. When symptoms emerged on June 15 he was transferred from managed isolation to quarantine.
The infected individual had a travelling partner. They are considered a close contact and were transferred to the Jet Park Hotel at the same time. At that facility there are 145 people.
Dr Bloomfield said we will continue to get cases at the border considering the pandemic raging on around the world.
Overall, New Zealand now has 1507 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19. No one else has died and no one is in hospital. A Hamilton aged residential care cluster has been closed. On Wednesday, 4936 tests were processed, taking the total to 321,187.
It follows two cases of the virus being recorded on Tuesday. Those individuals were given an exemption from managed isolation following a family member's sudden death. Neither were tested before leaving. It has also been found that they had contact with friends during a trip to Wellington on Saturday.
One of the individuals the women met has since tested negative for the virus, according to a gym she attends. The other result is pending.
The Director-General said at his Thursday press conference that he was upset by the blunder and is sorry about it.
Speaking to The AM Show on Thursday about the two COVID-19 cases' release from managed isolation, Dr Bloomfield took responsibility for gaps in implementation of the rules. People in the facilities are meant to be tested on day three and 12 of their stays and should return a negative test before leaving.
"There was more a gap of making sure the protocols and procedures were really clear for all staff. There are 15 facilities across Auckland. I thought it was all clear. I found out it wasn't," he said.
"I've apologised to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health... We have got really high expectations and New Zealanders have those of us. We didn't meet them on this occasion and I am sorry for that. I am taking responsibility for making sure it is sorted out," he said.
Assistant Chief of Defence Air Commodore Digby Webb has been asked to oversee the quarantine and managed isolation facilities, including processes around exits.
