Weeks after declaring that the country was free from any active coronavirus cases, New Zealand has now confirmed two new cases. According to a Reuters report, both cases are related to people who flew in from the UK.?
The country ended its 24-day streak of no new infections.
New Zealand removed all its social and economic restrictions except border controls last week after ensuring that there were no new or active cases of COVID-19. It was one of the first countries across the world to return to pre-pandemic normality.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had already mentioned that there is a possibility of new cases in the country as citizens from around the world would return home. The health ministry confirmed that the new cases were connected to the border as a result of travel from the UK.?
The two new cases are both women who belong to the same family who had travelled from the United Kingdom and had managed to get special permission to attend the funeral of a parent, reported BBC.
Dr Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand's director-general of health said, "There was an agreed plan in place as part of the approval process [including] the travel arrangements".
The women apparently travelled to New Zealand from the UK via Doha and Brisbane. One of them apparently had 'mild symptoms' but put it on a pre-existing condition, the reports said.
They reportedly took a private vehicle to Wellington and did not use any public facilities during their journey. They stayed with one family member who has now been placed in self-isolation.?
Till now, New Zealand has had 22 deaths from COVID-19.