Four new imported cases of COVID-19 have been detected in New Zealand's managed isolation facilities (MIQ), the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday.
There are no new cases in the community.
The first case arrived on January 28 from the United Kingdom via the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and tested positive due to routine testing at around day three of their stay. The second also arrived on January 28 and returned a positive result at around day three, and had travelled from India via the UAE. Both are quarantining in Auckland.
The third case travelled from the United States and landed on January 28. They tested positive on arrival, however the ministry noted it was a historical infection. They are quarantining in Christchurch.
The fourth case arrived on January 31 from the United Kingdom via the UAE and tested positive on arrival. They are quarantining in Auckland.
One previously reported case has now recovered, bringing the total number of active cases in New Zealand to 72. Our total number of confirmed cases is 1951.
To date, laboratories have processed 1,537,594 tests, with 2302 tests completed on Monday. The seven-day rolling average up to yesterday is 6300.
Transmission within MIQ facilities
The Ministry of Health revealed on Tuesday that as of February 1, 2021, officials have identified five returnees "infected by a source" within a MIQ facility since the system began. This does not include 13 international mariners where the source of the infection may have been overseas.
As of February 1, health officials have also identified five staff members infected by a source within a facility.
The infections involve seven events across five facilities. The facilities are the Rydges Auckland, the Pullman Auckland, the Sudima Christchurch Airport, the Crowne Plaza Christchurch and the Jet Park Auckland quarantine facility.
More than 105,000 returnees have passed through New Zealand's MIQ facilities, with over 4000 staff nationwide.
"We'd like to take this opportunity to again thank the tireless efforts of all staff working in managed isolation and quarantine facilities around New Zealand. Their frontline efforts to help break the chain of transmission of COVID-19 and keep New Zealanders safe and healthy are truly appreciated," the ministry said.
All of these cases have been publicly reported in the past:
- An infected staff member at the Rydges Auckland was detected in the community on August 16 and likely contracted the virus at the facility
- An infected healthcare worker at the Jet Park Auckland quarantine facility was detected in the community on September 12 and likely contracted the virus at the facility
- Two infected staff members at the Sudima Christchurch Airport were detected in the community on October 23 and were linked to the international mariners staying at the facility
- An infected defence worker at the Jet Park Auckland quarantine facility was detected in the community on November 6 and likely contracted the virus at the facility
- A returnee staying at the Crowne Plaza Christchurch tested positive for the virus in the community on September 18 and likely became infected at the facility
- Three returnees staying at the Pullman Auckland tested positive for the South African variant of the virus in the community on January 22 and likely became infected at the facility
- An additional returnee staying at the Pullman Auckland, linked to an Australian flight, tested positive for the UK variant in the facility on January 26 and likely became infected there.
Update on border-related cases
All close contacts of the three border-related cases announced last week have tested negative, the ministry confirmed.
On Sunday, January 24, it was revealed that a recent returnee, a Northland woman, had tested positive in the community after leaving the Pullman Hotel facility on January 15.
Days later, it was announced that an adult and child had also tested positive in the community after leaving the Pullman Hotel on January 15.
Of the 349 people who departed the Pullman Hotel between January 9 and January 24, 347 have returned negative test results, with two pending.
"These are encouraging results. We thank all of the returnees, staff and close contacts who have tested and self-isolated until they received a negative test result," the ministry said.
