New Zealand health ministry: 2 new COVID-19 cases came from Philippines

Two new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reported in New Zealand both came from the Philippines, the New Zealand’s Ministry of Health said Wednesday.

In a statement, the ministry said the first case is a male in his 20s who arrived in New Zealand on July 23 from the Philippines via Hong Kong.

He has been in managed isolation at the Rydges in Rotorua and tested negative for COVID-19 after around three days. He was transferred to Auckland quarantine facility after testing positive for the illness after around 12 days of his stay in managed isolation.

Meanwhile, the second patient is a female in her 40s who arrived in New Zealand on august 1 from the Philippines via Hong Kong.

She has been in managed isolation at the Grand Millennium in Auckland and tested positive around the third day of her stay.

The total number of active cases in managed isolation facilities in the country is now at 24.

The ministry said none of the cases require hospital-level care.

The new cases bring New Zealand’s total number of confirmed cases to 1,219.

The ministry said it is “actively considering” its advice to the public on use of masks as it looks at steps that the people could take to be better prepared for a possible further outbreak of COVID-19. — RSJ, GMA News