New Zealand has called in its military to oversee quarantine facilities and check border control after a blunder resulted in two new COVID-19 cases.
The release of two overseas arrivals without being tested or completing the quarantine period has cost the country its COVID-free status.
"It should never have happened and it cannot be repeated," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Wednesday, after appointing Assistant Chief of Defence, Air Commodore Digby Webb, to oversee the procedure.
"I cannot allow the gains we have all made to be squandered by processes that are not followed."
Efforts are now on to trace 320 people who are regarded as "close contacts" of the women, who have been moved to isolation facilities
GCC interior ministers hold emergency meeting in Riyadh
Gunshots fired in standoff at Philippine Senate over ICC suspect
Trump lands in China for Xi summit
Israeli airstrikes kill eight people on highway south of Beirut
Philippines' Senator says arrest imminent, urges public to block ICC transfer
UK's Starmer faces biggest challenge yet as resignation threat overshadows King's Speech
Israel steps up attacks on Gaza since Iran truce, as military says Hamas rearming
Trump says he does not need China's help to end Iran war
