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A seventh member of the Pakistan Cricket squad has today tested positive to COVID-19 since arriving in New Zealand for a summer series of matches.
“The remainder of the results from the squad’s Day 3 swab testing – apart from the six who have already returned a positive result, are negative,” the NZ’s Ministry of Health said in a statement today.
The Ministry said the cricket side would next undergo testing on day six of their stay.
“The exemption to train while in managed isolation is on hold pending consideration by the Canterbury District Health Board medical officer of health that they are satisfied that training is unlikely to transmit COVID-19,” it said.
“This ongoing consideration is expected to take until at least early next week.
“As per usual protocols, the latest case has been interviewed and close contacts, including flight contacts, have been, or are in the process of being, contacted.”
It said everyone who arrived on the same flight as the Pakistan Cricket Team was currently staying in an MIQ facility to complete 14 days in isolation.
“As announced yesterday, any of the squad identified as a close contact would not meet the requirements for the exemption as there is a risk that they could transmit COVID-19 to fellow team mates,” the Ministry said.
It said the squad members that arrived in New Zealand all met the agreed pre-departure requirements for travel, including multiple PCR tests, and symptom checks.
“Exemptions allowing people to train while in managed isolation are very difficult to obtain and any team that receives such an exemption is in a privileged position,” the Ministry said.
“The Ministry is today thanking the Pakistan Cricket squad for their compliance with expectations around managed isolation and their cooperation with the investigation of the cases. Cooperation and compliance are critical in ensuring New Zealand is kept safe from COVID-19.”
Meanwhile, there are four new confirmed cases of COVID-19 to report in managed isolation in New Zealand today. There are no new cases in the community.
“Two cases reported today arrived on 23 November from the United States and tested positive during routine testing around day three. Both individuals have been moved to Auckland’s quarantine facility.”
“The third case arrived from the United States on 26 November and were tested on arrival as they were symptomatic. They have also been moved to Auckland’s quarantine facility.”
There are now 69 active cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand. Yesterday laboratories completed 6,888 tests for COVID-19, bringing the total number of tests completed to date to 1,266,944.
