Lockdown extended

The whole of NZ will remain in the Alert Level 4 lockdown for a further four days, but Auckland will be in lockdown longer.

At a media conference this afternoon, the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that the city at the centre of the outbreak would stay in lockdown at least until next Tuesday, August 31. This would be reviewed next Monday.

She said any change in levels would depend on wastewater test results, case that emerge outside of Auckland and cases that emerge that were in isolation. Modelling suggested that the current outbreak had not yet reached its peak and might not peak for another two to four days.

There were 35 new community cases of Covid-19 reported today, bringing the total number of cases in the current outbreak to 107.

Of these, 72 are linked to other community cases and investigations are continuing to determine whether and how the remaining 35 cases are linked, but the Ministry of Health says most have a plausible link on initial assessment.

The list of locations of interest is being updated every two hours and can be read here: www.covid19.govt.nz