Five cases including fisherman

There are five new Covid-19 cases in New Zealand and none in the community, according to the Ministry of Health.

The ministry said one of the cases, a fisherman from Russia, was considered to be historical.

The fisherman was tested on arrival in New Zealand on December 18 after travelling from Russia via Singapore.

The ministry said he had boarded a fishing vessel in Lyttelton, near Christchurch, on the same day.

The vessel left New Zealand shortly after the crew’s arrival and is now in international waters.

It will not be returning to New Zealand for some months.

The fisherman had a previous infection, consistent with coronavirus, reported in Russia and his latest test result was interpreted as reflecting that previous infection.

He was not regarded as infectious and the ministry said it was still determining whether the case should be reported against New Zealand’s tally (as it was yesterday) or whether it should be reported as a case in Russia.

Yesterday’s other cases included two people who arrived in the country on December 10 after travelling from the United States.

Both tested positive and had symptoms about day nine of their stay in managed isolation.

They were transferred to a quarantine facility in Christchurch.

Another case arrived from South Korea on December 16 and tested positive at routine testing about day three of their stay. They have been transferred to Auckland’s quarantine facility, Jet Park.

A fourth case tested positive about day three of their stay after arriving in New Zealand on December 16.

The ministry said the country they had travelled from was not yet known. The case was also transferred to Jet Park.