Covid 19 coronavirus: Two new cases in MIQ, no new cases in community

Watch: Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins receives his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, as does Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall.

There are no new Covid-19 community cases to report today and two new Covid-19 border-related cases to report in managed isolation.

The two new cases both arrived on separate flights from India, via the United Arab Emirates, on March 28 and 29 respectively.

The first arrival returned a positive test on day one of routine testing, and the second on day zero routine testing.

They are both in Auckland managed isolation and quarantine.

The total number of cases so far is 2141.

Over the past week an average of four new cases at the border have been reported.

Ten people have recovered since yesterday, meaning the total number of cases is 72 – all in managed isolation.

The investigation into the Day 12 case at the Grand Mercure managed isolation facility in Auckland continues.

The total number of returnees in this group, who required additional monitoring after leaving the hotel, reduced by one yesterday to 343 because a person has left the country. Health authorities at this person’s destination country have been notified.

Of these 343 returnees, 340 have been contacted. Negative tests have been returned for all but 12 people. One of these 12 people has refused a test, with appropriate management and advice being provided by public health staff. We are continuing to monitor the 11 outstanding results.

Today’s results come as Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins put on a brave face for the cameras when he received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in front of media this morning.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins receiving his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at Ropata Health in Lower Hutt. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Swapping the usual suit jacket for a white “Unite against Covid-19” T-shirt, the minister gave a somewhat nervous laugh after being asked to roll up his sleeve.

“I’m not gonna watch…I’m gonna look this way,” he said.

Asked by a reporter how he felt about needles, usually, he said: “I’m not a great fan – no.”

But there was nothing to worry about when the nurse gave him his first jab; saying with a huge grin and laugh: “Didn’t even feel it. There you go – see?”

One Tuesday 6096 tests were processed. In the last week 35,204 tests have been processed, with a seven-day rolling average up to yesterday of 5029 tests.

The total number of tests processed by laboratories to date is 1,896,964.

The NZ COVID Tracer app now has 2,769,313 registered users.

Total poster scans have reached 236,173,829 and users have created 8,885,534 manual diary entries. There have been 833,615 poster scans in the last 24 hours to 1pm yesterday.