Coronavirus: One new COVID-19 case in MIQ, but still no community transmission

There is one new case of coronavirus in New Zealand's managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says.

However there are none in the community - marking 73 days since our last such COVID-19 case was detected.

The new MIQ case - a recent returnee who flew into Auckland from Thailand via Singapore on May 7 - tested positive during routine COVID-19 testing on day three.

Following the recovery of two more cases on Wednesday, the total number of active cases in New Zealand has dropped again to 22.

The number of infections reported here since the start of the pandemic is 2287, with another historical case now having been reclassified as 'not a case'.

Melbourne case update

The Ministry of Health says the public health risk to New Zealand from the Melbourne community case announced on Tuesday is low.

"At this stage the Ministry is recommending that Quarantine-free Travel, between New Zealand [and] the state of Victoria can continue with certain additional precautions in place.  

"From what we know so far - based on information from Victoria health authorities - the case is linked to the Australian border, and there is a limited period where the person was considered infectious while in the community in Melbourne with a modest number of locations of interest.

"Anyone who was at one of these locations of interest at the specified time cannot travel to New Zealand for 14 days from exposure."

The ministry says those already in New Zealand who have been at a location of interest during the time specified, must "self-isolate, call Healthline and arrange a test if advised to do so".  

Its contact tracing team will this week email roughly 4500 passengers who recently travelled from Victoria to New Zealand to remind them of these measures.

Another ministry update on the Victoria community case is expected later on Wednesday.