Two new Auckland cases test positive for Covid-19 South African variant

Two new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Auckland community are the South African variant, which is more infectious, RNZ reports. According to Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins, the preliminary genomic sequencing showed a link between the two new cases and the Northland case from the Pullman Hotel. Both new cases completed managed isolation in the same hotel and at about the same time as the Northland woman, but were on a different floor from her. Hipkins did not reveal from which countries the two new cases came from but said it was neither South Africa nor the UK. Meanwhile, everyone who has been at the Pullman during January will now be tested in the light of the two new cases.