No cases of COVID-19 were reported in the community on Friday, with 19 new cases reported in managed isolation.
All the positive cases related to mariners, who are in isolation, and one historical case of COVID-19, in a recent returnee who is in a managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facility, was also recorded, the Ministry of Health said.
The number of active cases in New Zealand is now 80, with two previously reported cases now recovered. The total number of confirmed cases is 2499.
Since January 1, 2021, there have been 101 historical cases, out of a total of 682 cases.
Mattina
Health and border authorities are continuing to monitor the situation around the Mattina vessel, the Ministry of Health said.
It was confirmed on Thursday night that nine crew aboard the ship had the Delta variant of coronavirus. On Friday, three more crew members were confirmed to be positive for COVID-19. There are now 15 positive cases onboard the ship.
All crew who have tested positive will remain quarantined on the vessel, where they will maintain minimum functions at the port, the ministry said.
"They will not have direct contact with any port staff while maintaining these functions."
"Three crew members, including the ship's captain, who have all tested negative for COVID-19, have been safely transported to onshore facilities, under the same strict infection prevention and control procedures, including the use of full PPE, regularly used to transport people arriving from overseas to MIQ facilities."
The captain of the ship was transported last night to a secure DHB-provided facility to isolate, while two other crew members are being transported to a quarantine facility in Christchurch on Friday.
Playa Zahara
The ministry said daily health and welfare checks are continuing for all crew members who remain onboard the Playa Zahara in quarantine in Lyttelton.
The 16 previously reported cases from the Playa Zahara, which were under investigation, have now been formally included in today's case tally, as they have been deemed current cases.
Viking Bay
Four crew members remain in quarantine onboard the Viking Bay fishing vessel at Queens Wharf in Wellington. The crew members are continuing to be tested during their quarantine.
A comprehensive safety plan has been developed and the risk to port workers and the public is deemed low, the ministry said.
The remaining 16 crew members remain in quarantine in a Wellington quarantine facility onshore, with plans underway for those crew members who have completed their required 14 days of isolation to leave managed isolation.
Testing
The total number of COVID-19 tests processed by laboratories to date is 2,426,356.
On Thursday, 6441 tests were processed across New Zealand.
The seven-day rolling average is 5734.
For all testing locations nationwide visit the Healthpoint website.
NZ COVID Tracer
NZ COVID Tracer now has 2,903,866 registered users.
Poster scans have reached 310,566,817 and users have created 12,135,978 manual diary entries.
There have been 623,783 scans in the last 24 hours to midday on Thursday.
