Pair arriving from Afghanistan test positive, placed in isolation

WELLINGTON: New Health Minister Chris Hipkins yesterday revealed there were two new cases of Covid19 introduced into New Zealand, both of them safely in managed isolation.

The pair arrived back in New Zealand from Afghanistan on a repatriation flight on July 2 and tested positive on day three of their stay in a managed isolation facility.

The new cases mean there are 22 active cases in the country, all in managed isolation or quarantine.

The Minister also put the boot into the Ministry of Health yesterday over the dwindling levels of Covid19 testing in New Zealand.

‘‘Over recent days the number of tests that you would have seen processed has not met the Government’s expectation around the rate of testing,’’ he said.

There were just 1641 tests yesterday.

‘‘I have instructed health officials to ensure that there is an enhanced rate of testing over the next week.’’

The aim was to get the number of daily Covid19 tests up to 4000.

At that level, the Government would have ‘‘sufficient confidence’’ that if there was any case of Covid19 in New Zealand, it would be picked up.

Ramping up to that level would also provide peace of mind for New Zealanders, he said.

‘‘I don’t want any New Zealander to think that the reason we’re not seeing Covid19 in the community is because we’re not testing for it.’’

Both of yesterday’s new cases were women from the same family, one in her 20s and the other in her 30s. — The New Zealand Herald