This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
On June 16, 2020, New Zealand reported two new cases of Covid-19, marking the end of a 25-day period without any fresh infections.
The two patients were recent arrivals from the United Kingdom and were in mandatory quarantine.
According to the health ministry, the cases were connected and related to the border as a result of recent travel from the UK.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had warned earlier that New Zealand would have cases again in the future, and these new cases were a reminder of the ongoing campaign against the virus.
Despite the new cases, New Zealand's borders remain open only to returning Kiwis and their families, with some exceptions for business and compassionate grounds.
The country had declared last week that it had eliminated community transmission of the virus, but this development shows that the virus is still present at the border.
