VIRUS-FREE STATUS ENDS AS TWO TEST POSITIVE

WELLINGTON It took just eight days for New Zealand to lose its COVID-FREE status when two women who had been given permission to leave quarantine early after arriving from abroad tested positive for the coronavirus, authorities said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, pictured, who has enjoyed enormous popularity for her success at ridding the country of coronavirus infection, said the government would review what happened, but that it was clear checks were not adequate in this case.

“Vigorous testing is now taking place,” Ardern said.

New Zealand had trumpeted its achievement last week of becoming one of the first countries in the world to eliminate COVID-19 and return to pre-pandemic normality, lifting all restrictions except border controls.

The country requires all people arriving from abroad to quarantine for 14 days. The two women had travelled from Britain to visit a dying parent in Wellington on June 7, the director general of health said.

Both had gone into quarantine in Auckland after landing, but had been given special permission to leave on compassionate grounds. They tested positive after they returned to quarantine.

The new cases ended a 24day streak of no new infections in the country.