This meant 156 returnees who were ready to leave the Auckland isolation facility have had their departure plans put on ice for up to three days. King said whole genome sequencing was under way to establish the strain and to determine if there was a link between the pair of isolation facility cases. While awaiting the results of genome sequencing, returnees at the same hotel would be required to stay put for up to 72 hours. Instead returnees should be informed there was a chance their stay could be extended if another person in their hotel tests positive. The letter - signed by King - asked returnees to "bear with us" as health officials investigated the situation further.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 28, 2021 20:48 UTC