'Virus-free' New Zealand reports two new Covid-19 cases

Two people have tested positive for Covid-19 in New Zealand, becoming the first new cases in more than three weeks.

The new infections come a week after the nation was declared virus-free.

The two patients, both women from the same family, had travelled from the UK after receiving special permission to attend the funeral of a parent.

It's not known if the pair are citizens of the UK, New Zealand or elsewhere.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced New Zealand would drop its Covid-19 alert system to the lowest level on 8 June, allowing fans back into sports stadiums and concert venues and removing seating restrictions from flights

The situation will come as a blow to New Zealand, which had remained Covid-free for the past 24 days, despite nearly eight million cases and 436,390 deaths globally.

Last week all domestic restrictions were lifted after the country was officially declared virus-free.

However, strict border controls have stayed in place, with only citizens and essential workers allowed entry.

But exemptions can be granted.

The two women landed in New Zealand on 7 June, flying from the UK via Doha and Brisbane, and went into quarantine.

They stayed in a managed isolation hotel in Auckland and on 12 June applied for permission to visit their dying parent - who died later that night.

They were granted permission to travel to the capital Wellington on 13 June.

One of the women had “mild symptoms”, but put this down to an existing condition.

They travelled to Wellington in a private vehicle and did not use any public facilities during the journey, the country’s director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said.

They stayed in the capital with a single family member, who has now been placed in self-isolation.

The women were tested yesterday and the results confirmed today.

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