WELLINGTON, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand reported two additional imported cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, and a community case related to a managed isolation facility health worker in Christchurch who was tested positive of the virus the previous day.
The first case was a recently arrived case from managed isolation and the second is a recently identified historical case, according to the Ministry of Health.
The recently arrived case arrived from Singapore on Oct. 31 and tested positive at around day 3 in managed isolation. The person is now in quarantine at an Auckland facility, said a ministry statement.
The historical case arrived in New Zealand on Oct. 18 from Japan. The person tested positive at around day 12. Subsequent negative repeat PCR tests, high CT values and positive serology mean this is not a case involving a recent infection, it said.
Five cases are now considered recovered, meaning the country's total number of active cases is 73. The total number of confirmed cases reached 1,615, the statement said.
Free COVID testing continues to be available at most general practices in Canterbury of the South Island, and also at two Community Based Assessment Centers near the Christchurch airport, it said.
Genome sequencing of the first staff member at the Christchurch airport managed isolation facility has been received and indicates that their viral genome is the same as that of five international mariners quarantined at the facility. This genome has not been seen in New Zealand before, according to the ministry. Enditem
