New Zealand recorded two new coronavirus cases after three weeks of no cases, in a situation the prime minister called “unacceptable failure of the system”.
The two women, family members and New Zealand citizens, had traveled from the United Kingdom and were in a managed isolation facility in Auckland upon arrival.
They were allowed to travel to Wellington on “compassionate grounds” via a private vehicle to attend a funeral, said Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand’s director-general of health. The women were tested for coronavirus at a drive-thru testing centre in Wellington.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said this case proved the need for a rigorous system at the border and appointed a military leader to oversee quarantine and managed isolation facilities.
New Zealand’s health ministry has determined 320 potential contacts of the two women. All of them will be contacted by public health officials and encouraged to get a test.
Those who are being quarantined after arriving from overseas will also now be tested twice: on day three and on day 12 of the 14-day isolation.
Source: Euronews.com
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