New Zealand confirms two new cases of coronavirus

Marty MELVILLE / AFP

New Zealand has reported two new COVID-19 cases, both related to recent travel from the UK.

It's the first cases reported in the country over the last 24 days.

New Zealand had lifted all social and economic restrictions except border controls last week, after declaring itself free of the coronavirus, 

However, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had warned that new cases could come up as citizens return home.

So far, the country has recorded 22 deaths from the virus.

More from International News

  • Hamas frees three hostages, Israel begins releasing Palestinians

    Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages on Saturday, whose emaciated appearance shocked Israelis following their release on live TV, in the latest stage of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the 15-month war in Gaza.

  • 10 people killed in Alaska plane crash

    The US Coast Guard in Alaska found the wreckage of a small plane atop frozen sea ice on Friday, after the aircraft suddenly lost altitude on Thursday and the crash killed all 10 people on board, officials said.

  • US judge pauses plan to put USAID workers on leave

    A US judge has temporarily allowed roughly 2,700 US Agency for International Development employees put on leave by President Donald Trump's administration to go back to work, pausing aspects of a plan to dismantle the agency.

  • Hamas accuses Israel of ceasefire breaches before hostage release

    Hamas accused Israel of multiple breaches of their ceasefire agreement on Friday, a day before the scheduled exchange of three more Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners in the latest stage in a fragile deal aimed at ending the war in Gaza.

  • Indian PM Modi to visit US next week

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United States from February 12 to 13 and hold talks with President Donald Trump, India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Friday.

News

  • H.H. Sheikh Mohammed to honour Arab Hope Makers

    His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai will meet with a group of young humanitarians at a ceremony on February 23, as part of the Arab Hope Makers initiative.

  • UAE Floating Hospital admits 30 Palestinians since ceasefire

    The UAE Floating Hospital in Al-Arish has admitted around 30 patients from Gaza since the start of the ceasefire and the resumption of medical evacuations through the Rafah crossing, as part of the Operation Chivalrous Knight 3.

  • UAE condemns school shooting in Sweden

    The UAE on Friday strongly condemned a shooting at an adult education centre in Sweden that killed 11 people, expressing solidarity with the victims' families.