No new community cases; 1 case of COVID-19 in managed isolation 16 May

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

There is one new case to report in a recent returnee in our managed isolation facilities, since the Ministry’s last update Friday.

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

No previously reported cases have recovered. The total number of active cases in New Zealand today is 19.

Our total number of confirmed cases is 2,290.

Since 1 January 2021, there have been 60 historical cases, out of a total of 474 cases.

New border case details

Arrival dateFromViaPositive test day/reasonManaged isolation/quarantine location
10 MayUSADirect flightDay 3 / routineAuckland

Weak positive result in Wellington wastewater testing

ESR undertakes regular wastewater testing across sites in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Rotorua, Hamilton and Queenstown as an additional surveillance tool in the fight against COVID-19.

Late on Friday 14 May, ESR reported there had been a weak positive test result from a sample taken in Wellington. A follow-up sample yesterday returned a second weak positive result.

Based on our experience, it is most likely that the two weak positive results are due to recently recovered cases continuing to shed the virus.

In recent weeks three recovered cases who live in the Wellington region have left the Auckland quarantine facility. A further historical case left a Wellington managed isolation facility the same day the second sample was taken.

Additionally, it is possible that one or more recently recovered cases from elsewhere could have flown into Wellington.

ESR consider a single recovered person shedding the virus may be detected in wastewater.

As part of our ongoing precautionary approach, and to help rule out undetected COVID-19 infection, the Ministry is encouraging anyone with symptoms, especially if they are in the Wellington region to get tested promptly.

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