Another Pakistan squad member tests positive for Covid-19 in New Zealand

Six members of the 53-member squad Men in Green tested positive on Tuesday

PHOTO: Reuters

Another Pakistan cricket team member in New Zealand has tested positive for Covid-19, taking the tally of infected individuals to seven, according to the Associated Press.

Six members of the 53-member squad Men in Green tested positive on Tuesday when the team landed in New Zealand from Pakistan and began its mandatory 14-day stay in managed isolation. The seventh member returned positive result when players and officials again were tested on the third day of their isolation period.

“One additional member of the Pakistan cricket squad has today tested positive during routine testing,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement. “The remainder of the results from the squad’s day 3 swab testing — apart from the six who have already returned a positive result — are negative.”

The Pakistan team has already received a final warning from the health ministry after players violated protocols on their first day in isolation. The ministry said closed-circuit television footage from the team’s Christchurch hotel showed squad members mingling in corridors and sharing food.

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New Zealand’s director general of health, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, stated that he took a “dim view” of the team’s failure to obey the regulations and future breaches will force them to send the team back home.

“Rather than being in their own rooms which is a requirement for that first three days, until that first test comes back, there was some mingling in the hallways, chatting, sharing food and not wearing masks,” Bloomfield said.

On Friday, the health ministry said the team’s conduct had “significantly improved” after the warning was issued.

“We thank members of the team for their co-operation with the case investigations following the announcement of positive cases within the team,” the Ministry said. “Co-operation and compliance are critical in ensuring New Zealand is kept safe from Covid-19.”