There are two new cases of Covid-19 to report in managed isolation today, and no new cases in the community, according to the Ministry of Health.
One new case arrived from Amsterdam via Singapore on 23 October and the other case arrived from the UK via Dubai and Malaysia on 19 October.
Both cases were detected during routine isolation and testing processes and are now at the Auckland quarantine facility.
It’s the ninth consecutive day since the last community-transmitted case of Covid-19 in New Zealand. The last such case was recorded on Friday October 23.
The new cases bring New Zealand's total number of active cases to 77, with no one currently in hospital.
The total number of confirmed cases of the virus since the pandemic began is now 1603.
Yesterday seven cases of Covid-19 were recorded in managed isolation.
Christchurch returnee cluster closed
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health said it had closed the Christchurch returnee cluster since it has been more than 28 days since the last case – the length of two infection cycles.
The cluster began with the report on 19 September of an individual who developed symptoms and was tested after finishing 14 days in managed isolation and returning two negative tests on day three and 12.
The Ministry said at the time, the returnee started to develop symptoms on September 16 and returned a positive test.
"As a result of an investigation within the managed isolation facility, the most likely source of infection was thought to be as a result of transfer of the infection via a rubbish bin with a lid shared with their neighbour who had developed the infection between the two tests in the facility," the Ministry said in today's statement.
There are seven cases linked to the cluster - six announced as cases in the community (on September 19, 20 and 23) and the seventh (September 9) detected while still in managed isolation, but subsequently linked to the other six cases.
"Lessons from this cluster have resulted in changes being made, including informing our ongoing auditing and strengthening of our managed isolation procedures and processes."
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