Coronavirus: New Zealand Military To Oversee Country's Quarantine Facilities

New Zealand's military has been put in charge of the nation's border quarantine measures after two women were released from quarantine early before later testing positive for COVID-19.

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern described the early release of the pair, who arrived from London, as an "unacceptable failure".

Ms Arden said Air Commodore Digby Webb, New Zealand's Assistant Chief of Defence, will now oversee all quarantine and managed isolation facilities.

Speaking at a news conference, she said that Air Cdre Webb will be allowed access to military logistics, operational expertise and if required, personnel.

New Zealand had gone more than three weeks without reporting any new cases and was considered virus-free.

The pair made the journey to visit a dying parent and were granted an exemption to leave their mandatory 14-day quarantine early on compassionate grounds.

They then travelled by car from Auckland to Wellington, where they tested positive for coronavirus.

Health officials said the women had no contact with other people on their road trip.

However, the 320 people who took the same flight and who stayed in the same hotel as the pair are being contacted.

Ms Ardern has advocated tough border measures to prevent another outbreak and has cancelled quarantine exemptions on compassionate grounds while the case is investigated further.