New Zealand confirms 14 new COVID-19 cases

New Zealand reported 14 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases of the disease to 53.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield from the New Zealand Health Ministry said the 14 new cases were spread across the country in Wellington, Auckland, Taranaki, Waikato, Manawatu, Taupo, and Nelson.

Two of the newly confirmed cases on Saturday have no overseas travel history, indicating a local community transmission.

The Ministry of Health could not rule out community transmission with the cases who had not traveled overseas, Bloomfield said, "we always knew that cases not linked to travel could happen and we are prepared for that."

According to Bloomfield, three people were in the hospital and in a stable condition. Another 1,500 tests were processed in the last 24 hours in New Zealand.

New Zealand has already closed its border to non-residents from Thursday to prevent COVID-19 from further spreading into the country.

(CGTN)