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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield are speaking to media.
Dr Bloomfield said there was just one new confirmed case in managed isolation recorded today, plus the four cases of community transmission announced last night.
He said there were four further probable cases, who were all in isolation, he said.
There are 22 active cases in New Zealand, he says.
- If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP – don’t show up at a medical centre
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Ardern and Dr Bloomfield announced increased Covid-19 alert levels across the countrylast night after four new cases of community transmission.
Those four were a family, and Dr Bloomfield revealed this morning that one of them had travelled to Rotorua while symptomatic.
He said the visit to Rotorua had not resulted in a positive test for any of the close contacts of the positive case and her child.
The Auckland region moved to level 3 at midday today, with the rest of New Zealand moving to level 2 simultaneously. The increased levels will remain for three days until midday Friday, when alert levels will be reassessed.
The new measures include roadblocks being set up by police and defence force at the exits from Auckland.
Rest homes are also going into full lockdown until midnight on Friday, effectively operating at level 4.
The Ministry has begun a mass testing regime, calling for anyone with symptoms to seek testing. Auckland’s Covid-19 testing centres are extremely busy, with queues snaking kilometres as hundreds of people line up for tests. The healthline has been inundated with calls as well, with reports of some people waiting on hold for hours.