Two new cases of COVID-19 have been detected in New Zealand's managed isolation and quarantine facilities (MIQ), the Ministry of Health announced on Sunday.
There are no new cases in the community.
The first case arrived in New Zealand from Zambia via the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 2 and tested positive due to routine testing at around day three of their stay in MIQ.
This returnee was transferred to a hospital in Auckland due to a non-COVID-19-related condition, the ministry said, and returned a positive result while hospitalised.
Local health officials say that COVID-19 infection and prevention protocols were followed to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and the public.
The second case returned a positive result on arrival after travelling from the UAE. They are quarantining in Auckland.
There are now 66 active cases in New Zealand. To date, 1964 confirmed cases have been recorded in the country.
To date, laboratories have processed 1,560,312 tests. On Saturday, 4044 tests were completed, with the seven-day rolling average sitting at 4005 tests.
Update: Border-related Hamilton case
High CT counts and serology results for the case detected in Hamilton on Saturday indicates the infection is most likely historical and not infectious. Whole genomic sequencing results have been inconclusive and will be rerun, the ministry said.
The public health risk is still considered to be low.
Managed isolation at the Pullman Hotel
The final 60 returnees at the Pullman Hotel managed isolation facility in Auckland have completed their health checks and are being released on Sunday, the ministry confirmed.
The Pullman is currently not housing any new returnees and will undergo a deep clean after a handful of new arrivals tested positive in the community after being released from the facility.
The returnees are required to further isolate at home for five days and return a negative test on day five. They are required to wear a mask when departing the facility and undergoing their day five test. During this period they will be contacted daily by health professionals for health and wellbeing check-ups, the ministry said. If they become symptomatic following their departure from the facility, they are advised to call Healthline immediately.
These interim measures will remain in place while a previously announced review is undertaken into how transmission occurred in the Pullman Hotel.
NZ COVID Tracer
NZ COVID Tracer now has 2,557,477 registered users. QR code posters have been scanned 172,847,125 times to date and users have created 7,073,374 manual diary entries.
Since midday on Saturday, New Zealanders have logged their location 548,317 times. The seven-day rolling average number of scans is 935,006.
The ministry's next media release is planned for 1pm on Monday, February 8.
