New Zealand's Ministry of Health testing two people “close to the suspected case definition” for coronavirus
Two people being tested for coronavirus in New Zealand meet the “travel criteria” and have symptoms that put them “close to the suspected case definition” for the virus, according to the Ministry of Health.
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield announced this at today's press conference at Parliament.
“There are currently many people being tested, and we believe two of them are close to the suspected case definition.
Dr Bloomfield said: “This means they meet the travel criteria and have symptoms consistent with Covid-19.”
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Asked when the test results would be known, he said, “We may know by now”, as the results were due at 4h in the afternoon.
The two people “close to the suspected case definition” were not on the same flight as each other, nor were they on the same flight as the first person who flew from Iran and was confirmed to have Covid-19.
They are also not the two people currently being monitored in Nelson who were on the same flight as the confirmed case.
Dr Bloomfield said the Ministry of Health would inform the media and the public if there were any further positive cases.
There has been 1 confirmed case of Covid-19 among people returning to Auckland from Iran via Bali.
The person is recovering in hospital and is in a stable condition.
The Government has extended the travel ban on people arriving in New Zealand from China and Iran for another seven days.
People arriving from northern Italy and South Korea are now also required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in New Zealand.
Original article link: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/two-people-being-tested-coronavirus-in-nz-close-suspected-case-definition-ministry-health