New Zealand reports 2 new COVID-19 cases

Wellington, Aug 1 (IANS) New Zealand reported two new COVID-19 cases n managed isolation facilities on Saturday, which took the overall tally in the country to 1,562, said the Ministry of Health.

The new cases were females in their 20s who arrived from Pakistan via Dubai on July 27, Xinhua news agency reported citing the Ministry as saying in a statement.

They were in managed isolation facilities upon arrival and had been transferred to the quarantine facility in Auckland, said the statement.

The total number of active cases in New Zealand's managed isolation and quarantine facilities was 22, unchanged from Friday, it said, adding that there was currently no one receiving hospital-level care for COVID-19.

It had been 92 days since the last case of COVID-19 was acquired locally from an unknown source, said the Ministry.

While there continued to be no evidence of any transmission in New Zealand, it urged the public to take a test if they were asked to.

"Testing is the best way we can be assured that there is no undetected community transmission in New Zealand -- and we need everyone to play their part in that. If you are offered a test for COVID-19, please get swabbed."

The death toll currently stands at 22.