No community cases; 3 historical cases of Covid in managed isolation; Taranaki wastewater update

There are no cases of COVID-19 to report in the community or in managed isolation in New Zealand today.

There are three historical cases of COVID-19 to report today in recent returnees in managed isolation facilities.

Five previously reported cases have now recovered. The number of active cases in New Zealand is 54.

Since 1 January 2021, there have been 108 historical cases, out of a total of 690 cases.

The seven-day rolling average of new cases detected at the border is seven.

Our total number of confirmed cases is 2,507.

Historical cases identified at the border

Arrival date

From

Via

Positive test day/reason

Managed isolation/quarantine location

11 July *

Philippines

Australia

Day 12 / routine

Auckland

22 July **

Uzbekistan

United Arab Emirates

Day 0 / contact of a case

Christchurch

22 July **

Uzbekistan

United Arab Emirates

Day 0 / routine

Christchurch

* This case was initially reported as a case on Saturday. This case was subsequently reclassified yesterday as 'under investigation' and has today been confirmed as a historical case.

** These cases travelled together

One case, reported on Saturday, who arrived in New Zealand on 22 July from the United Kingdom via Qatar, was previously reported in the UK, and as a result has now been removed from our confirmed case tally.

Another case, reported yesterday, who arrived in New Zealand on 22 July from the United Kingdom via Qatar has been reclassified as 'under investigation' while it is determined if this case is historical.

Response to PCR wastewater results

All test results currently processed for New Plymouth from Friday, Saturday and some of Sunday are negative. A total of 160 swabs were taken in New Plymouth yesterday. Around a quarter of these have been processed and returned negative results.

There remain a number of results that are pending from swabs taken yesterday that are expected later today.

A preliminary result, from an early wastewater sample taken for around two thirds of the usual 24 hour sampling time, has come back with no further COVID-19 detected. Results from wastewater samples taken over a wider area in Taranaki are expected tomorrow.

The Ministry is continuing to strongly encourage anyone in Taranaki with symptoms, or recent arrivals from Australia with or without symptoms who've recently visited Taranaki to be tested.

This follows two positive wastewater results detected in Taranaki late last week (20 and 22 July) which could be due to recently recovered cases continuing to shed the virus, or could signal undetected cases in the community.

In order to determine whether there are any undetected cases the Ministry is recommending anyone in Taranaki, or who has visited recently, and who has symptoms to get tested.

Additional testing capacity remains open in New Plymouth to support potential demand.

The Ministry is recommending that any recent arrivals from Australia, who have symptoms, also get tested, and anyone who has recently been in Australia who is now in Taranaki to get tested even if they don't have symptoms.

People who have recently been in Australia should continue to check the State websites for locations of interest as new locations of interest continue to be identified.

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