New Zealand records new case of coronavirus after 102 days

New Zealand on Tuesday detected a new locally transmitted case of COVID-19. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has ordered lockdown in Auckland after new coronavirus cases. Ardern said four cases had been detected in a single family in Auckland from an unknown source.

The country had been COVID-19 free for 102 days and reported its last case on May 1. “After 102 days, we have our first cases of COVID-19 outside of managed isolation or quarantine facilities… While we have all worked incredibly hard to prevent this scenario, we have also planned and prepared for it,” the New Zealand PM said. 

The new case is of a 20-year-old man who arrived in New Zealand from Melbourne on July 30. The country, which had detected its case 102 days ago from a locally unknown source, has now 22 active cases of coronavirus. 

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The 20-year-old man, after arriving in New Zealand, managed isolation and tested negative for the infection around day 3 of his stay and tested positive on 12th day. 

The total tally of the COVID-19 cases in the country now stands at 1,220, the country’s Health Ministry said.