It's been a month since New Zealand's last community case, the Ministry of Health has confirmed, with just ten new imported cases recorded over the last two days.
The last community case reported due to community transmission came on November 18.
Each of the new cases was detected in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities, with all but two now having been transferred to the Jet Park Hotel, Auckland's quarantine facility. The others are in a quarantine hotel in Christchurch.
The 10 new cases are as follows:
- One arrived on 4 December from Netherlands via Singapore. This person tested positive at routine testing around day 12.
- One arrived on 5 December from Italy via the United Arab Emirates. This person tested positive at routine testing around day 12.
- Two arrived on 10 December from the United States. These people tested positive at routine testing around day 3.
- Two travelling separately arrived on 12 December from India via the United Arab Emirates. They both tested positive during day 3 testing.
- One arrived on 13 December from Germany via the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. This person tested positive at routine testing around day 3.
- One arrived on 13 December from the United Kingdom via the United Arab Emirates. This person tested positive at routine testing around day 3.
- One arrived on 13 December from the United Kingdom. This person tested positive at routine testing around day 3.
- One arrived on 13 December. This person’s travel itinerary is still being confirmed. This person tested positive at routine testing around day 3.
The total number of active coronavirus cases now stands at 51, with two previously reported cases now having recovered.
The combined tally of confirmed and probable cases stands at 2100.
Ministry of Health confident of 'strengthened systems'
Two reports - one a Surveillance and Testing Report, and the other the Contact Tracing Addendum - were released to the public by the Ministry of Health on Friday.
Of 13 recommendations in the Surveillance and Testing Report, the ministry says all have been addressed, with actions either already implemented or underway.
Another 15 recommendations were made in the Contact Tracing Addendum, which the ministry is in the process of responding to.
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says the health system had responded on an unprecedented scale at speed to eliminate COVID-19.
"The response has not been without flaws," he said, "but the Ministry and wider system have learnt, reviewed and adjusted along the way to continually improve our response.
“New Zealanders should have confidence that we have responded to four outbreaks since the Auckland August cluster without needing to change alert levels.
"This is a reflection of the strengthened systems that have adapted since the beginning of the pandemic."
