There have been three new cases reported in New Zealand's managed isolation facilities today.
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In a statement, the Ministry of Health said the total number of active cases is now 56.
The three new cases include:
* One that arrived in New Zealand on 7 December from the United States. They tested positive during routine testing around day five and all have been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
* One who arrived on 30 November from the United States.
* One which arrived in New Zealand from the United Kingdom on 10 December and tested positive on arrival.
All have been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
While the Ministry has cut back the number of daily briefings on the fight against Covid to four a week, one new case was confirmed yesterday - an Air NZ crew member who had flown in from the United States.
The Ministry said today that the investigation into that case was continuing
The crew member arrived in New Zealand on 9 December, on a flight from the United States and tested positive as part of compulsory testing required within 48 hours of operating to the US.
"Air New Zealand has assured the Ministry that based on information to date, this aircrew member has been compliant with all requirements in place for aircrew operating to and from the United States.
"Genome sequencing is yet to be finalised, however preliminary results show the genome is not closely matched to any New Zealand cases that have been sequenced, and comparison with international samples suggests it originated in the United States."
All other air crew on the flight are in isolation, but have so far returned negative test results.
The total number of confirmed cases is now 1740.
See RNZ's full coverage of Covid-19
- If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP - don't show up at a medical centre
Read more about the Covid-19 coronavirus:
- See all RNZ Covid-19 news
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- How to wear a mask
- Touching your Face: Why do we do it and how to stop
- Scientific hand-washing advice to avoid infection
- A timeline: How the coronavirus started, spread and stalled life in New Zealand
- Coronavirus: A glossary of terms
