New Delhi (NVI): New Zealand has confirmed two new cases of coronavirus, both having a travel history to the UK after almost 24 days of zero infections reported in the country.
The two new cases were women aged in their 30s and 40s who visited a dying parent in Wellington, according to reports in foreign media.
Both women had arrived in New Zealand on June 7 from the UK, via Doha and Brisbane and were in an isolation facility in Auckland. They were given special permission to leave the facility to visit the dying parent in Wellington. Both are self-isolating now, local media reports said.
The country had lifted all social and economic restrictions except border controls last week, after declaring itself free from COVID-19.
It became one of the first countries in the world to return to pre-pandemic normality.
According to media reports, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned that new cases may emerge in the future as New Zealanders return home and some others were allowed under special conditions.
The country’s health ministry said the new cases were related to the border as a result of recent travel from the UK.
So far, 22 people have died from the deadly virus in the country. New Zealand has 1,156 confirmed cases and while 1,132 have recovered.
