New Zealand confirms second case of COVID-19

Wellington
March 04, 2020, 11:01 AM
by Xinhua/UNB

UNB News
Wellington
Publish- March 04, 2020, 11:01 AM
Xinhua/UNB
Update- March 04, 2020, 11:06 AM

New Zealand confirms second case of COVID-19

A MTA subway information ticker caution riders on how to take preventive measures as concerns grow around COVID-19, Tuesday March 3, 2020, in New York. A man from New York City's suburbs was hospitalized in serious condition with COVID-19 on Tuesday, a case that prompted school closings and quarantines for congregants of a now-shuttered synagogue. The state's second confirmed case also raised the possibility that the virus is spreading locally. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

New Zealand confirmed the second case of COVID-19 on Wednesday, which was another imported case after the country's first case was confirmed last week.

After returning to Auckland from northern Italy last week, a woman in her 30s has tested positive for the new virus. She is currently quarantined at home, along with her family.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand is well prepared to deal with the epidemic and has plan in place.

The second confirmed case showed that some people with the virus have only displayed mild to moderate symptoms so the patient has not been required to be hospitalized, Ardern said.

Medical workers are tracing those who had close contact with the second confirmed case, including passengers on board Air New Zealand flight NZ0283, from Singapore to Auckland on Feb. 25, and two domestic flights travelled between Auckland and Palmerston North on March 2.