No community cases; 2 new cases in managed isolation; 2 historical cases; Taranaki wastewater update

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

There are two positive cases of COVID-19 to report in managed isolation facilities and two new historical cases aboard the ship the Playa Zahara.

Since 1 January 2021, there have been 105 historical cases, out of a total of 689 cases

Nineteen previously reported cases have now recovered. The number of active cases in New Zealand is 58.

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

One previously reported positive case has now been reviewed and classified as ‘not a case’ and a second previously reported positive case is now reclassified as under investigation. Both cases have been removed from our total tally of cases.

Our total number of confirmed cases is 2,506.

Taranaki Wastewater

The Ministry is pleased at the response today to the call for testing in New Plymouth as reported by the local DHB.

The Ministry continues 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 earlier this 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 has been stood up in New Plymouth to support potential demand.

The Ministry is recommending that any recent arrivals from Australia, who have symptoms, to 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.

/Public Release. View in full here.