Auckland will remain in Alert Level 4 for the next two weeks while Northland will move to Alert Level 3 at 11:59PM on Thursday if all testing remains clear. The remainder of New Zealand will move to Alert Level 3 at 11.59PM Tuesday.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the decision this afternoon alongside Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield. The Prime Minister also assured the country that they are not running out of the vaccine.
There are 53 new cases of COVID-19 in the New Zealand community today. All 53 cases are in Auckland. This brings the total number of active cases in the community outbreak to 562.
The total number of community cases in Auckland is now 547 and in Wellington it is 15.
There are 522 cases that have been clearly epidemiologically linked to another case or sub-cluster, and a further 42 for which links are yet to be fully established.
There are currently seven epidemiologically linked sub-clusters identified within this outbreak. The two largest clusters are the Birkdale Social Network cluster (79 confirmed cases), and the Mangere church cluster (280 confirmed cases).
There are appropriate isolation and infection prevention and control plans in place at all hospitals where these patients are being managed.
In addition to two recovered community cases in Auckland, one other case in a MIQ facility has now also recovered.
Therefore, the total number of active cases being managed in New Zealand is currently 603.
There is one new case and one historical case of COVID-19 in recent returnees in managed isolation facilities.
Image credit : Ministry of Health/NZ Government