COVID-19: Four new COVID-19 cases in New Zealand's managed isolation facilities

Four new imported cases of COVID-19 have been detected in New Zealand's managed isolation facilities, the Ministry of Health announced in Wednesday's update.

There are no new cases in the community.

Seventeen previously reported cases have now recovered. The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 43, and our total number of confirmed cases is 1744.

Two of the four new imported cases are relatives who arrived on December 9 from the Czech Republic via Germany and Singapore. Both tested positive due to routine testing on day three of their mandatory 14-day managed isolation period, and are now staying in a Christchurch quarantine facility.

The other two cases travelled together and arrived on December 10 from the United States. Both tested positive due to routine testing at around day three. They are being transferred to a quarantine facility in Christchurch.

The total number of tests processed by laboratories to date is 1,352,462.

Air New Zealand crew member

The final genome sequencing results for the Air New Zealand staffer who tested positive has found the lineage does not match any genomes previously sequenced in New Zealand, the ministry revealed.

However, the same genome lineage has been found in the US, where the aircrew member was located before returning to New Zealand - which suggests the individual contracted COVID-19 while overseas. The staffer arrived back in New Zealand on December 9 and is currently staying in the Auckland quarantine facility, the Jet Park Hotel.

Three staffers who are considered close contacts of the case have returned negative results from day five testing.

A fourth person, a casual contact, was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility as a precaution after developing symptoms. This person has since returned a negative test result and remains in the facility.

The ministry also confirmed it will continue to provide updates on case numbers throughout the Christmas period. To reflect the routine nature of imported infections being detected at the border, the ministry has reduced its updates to four times per week - Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday - which will continue until December 23.

Over the holiday period, case updates will be provided on Sunday, December 27; Tuesday, December 29; Thursday, December 31; Sunday, January 3; Tuesday, January 5; Thursday, January 7 and Sunday, January 10.

"The public can be assured that the ministry will report any significant development, including any case emerging in the community, outside these scheduled reporting dates if required," the ministry confirmed.