Coronavirus: Zero new cases reported in community on Saturday, two in MIQ

The Ministry of Health reported zero new COVID-19 cases in the community on Saturday, and two in managed isolation and quarantine.

"All close contacts associated with the cases households, school and travel group to New Plymouth have returned negative results," the ministry said in a statement, more good news after Auckland's brief level 3 lockdown earlier this week.

"Contact tracing has identified a total of 128 close contacts associated with all cases in this cluster, aside from the positive cases which have previously been reported. 

"Of these, 120 of the close contacts have returned a negative test result. We are awaiting test results for eight people. Seven of these people are from the medical clinic and relate to Case C, which is considered a low risk exposure event, and one is a workplace contact of Case E.

"As at 8.00am this morning, a total of 31 close contacts and 1,423 casual plus contacts have been identified at Papatoetoe High School. The number of casual plus contacts has decreased as these people were not at school at the time of exposure."

"Of the casual plus contacts (that is other students and staff at the school), 1396 have returned negative results, there is one positive (Case E), and 26 results are still to come."

Papatoetoe High School students still haven't gone back to school.

"We do remind all students and staff at the school to please stay home and have a test if they haven't already," the ministry said. 

"School is expected to return on Monday... Close contacts at the school will not be able to return until they have been advised by public health that they can."

Testing has also been carried out on staff at LSG Sky Chef, where one of the cases worked. 

"All nine contacts in the laundry have returned negative results. Of the 444 people in the wider working environment, 387 are negative and 56 results are still to come (one positive, Case B)."

Testing centres are open across Auckland at Takanini, Wiri, Otara, Botany, Balmoral, New Lynn, Henderson and Northcote and Papatoetoe High School.

Testing of wastewater in Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch has found no further traces of COVID-19. 

Of the border cases, both arrived on February 18 from United Arab Emirates. Both tested positive on day zero. 

There are now 51 active cases. The total number of confirmed cases is 1994.