Six new imported cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in New Zealand over the past two days, the Ministry of Health announced on Sunday.
The cases were detected in managed isolation and quarantine facilities (MIQ), with no new evidence of community transmission to report.
Friday marked one month since New Zealand's last community case, which was recorded on November 18.
One of the six new cases arrived in New Zealand on December 8 from South Africa. This person tested positive due to routine testing at about day 12 of their mandatory 14-day stay in managed isolation, and has been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility, the Jet Park Hotel.
The second person arrived on December 8 from Australia. This case also tested positive due to routine testing at around day 12 and has been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
The third arrived on December 10 from the United States. This person tested positive at round day seven, and is considered a close contact of an existing case in managed isolation. They are now in quarantine in a facility in Christchurch.
The fourth and fifth cases arrived on December 15 from the Netherlands, via Qatar and Australia. They both tested positive due to routine testing at around day three and have been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility. The last new case to report arrived on December 15 from South Africa. This person tested positive during routine testing at around day three and has also been transferred to the Jet Park Hotel.
The ministry says two previously reported cases have now recovered, bringing the total number of active cases in New Zealand to 55. The country's total number of confirmed cases is 1760.
Laboratories have, to date, processed 1,371,889 COVID-19 tests.
Health officials 'closely monitoring' situation in NSW
Health officials are closely monitoring the situation in New South Wales (NSW), the ministry said in Sunday's statement. A cluster in Sydney's Northern Beaches is continuing to grow, with locals under a strict three-day lockdown to try and combat the spread of the virus. As of Saturday, the cluster had increased to 41 cases.
On Sunday, New NSW authorities announced 30 new cases - 28 have been linked to the Avalon cluster, named after a community in the Northern Beaches, and two cases from the Northern Beaches are under investigation.
Restrictions have now been imposed on Greater Sydney, with no more than 10 guests permitted per household, and social distancing restrictions enforced for hospitality venues.
New Zealand health officials are in regular contact with Australian officials, the ministry said.
"Officials in New Zealand have already increased public health and testing measures relating to aircrews to further strengthen our country's defence against COVID-19," said a ministry spokeswoman.
"Among the measures, overseas-based air crew are required to stay in a managed isolation facility for the duration of their layover while in New Zealand."
NZ COVID Tracer app
The Government's official contact tracing technology, the NZ COVID Tracer app, has now recorded 2,413,200 registered users.
Poster scans have reached 141,573,848 and users have created 5,702,738 manual diary entries.
The ministry also had a message for Kiwis as people prepare for the summer break - use the COVID Tracer, scan QR codes, and turn on the app's Bluetooth function. The ministry's next update is planned for 1pm on Monday, December 21.
