News
The All of Government COVID-19 National Response will provide an update at 1.00 pm today. (See below)
Yesterday the prime minister made it clear the alert level four Covid-19 lockdown will go for the full four weeks.
Ardern said that’s the time needed to make sure the virus is under control, before any restrictions are eased.
Meanwhile, discussions are already underway at Cabinet about what would have to happen for New Zealand to safely return to alert level 3.
Speakers:
- Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
- Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Director-General of Health
A livestream of the update will be available from this page at 1.00 pm.
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- New Zealand now has 54 new cases, 22 which are probable cases of Covid-19. The new total of confirmed cases is 1160
- Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the media conference will now be a combined press conference.
- There are now 12 people in hospital, with four in intensive care. One person is critical.
- Community transmission is at 2 percent, Dr Ashley Bloomfield says.
- 42,826 tests have been undertaken to date, he says.
- There are 50,000 nasal swabs in stock with more to arrive.
- On David Clark’s actions, Jacinda Ardern says what he did was wrong.
- “My priority above all else is our collective fight against Covid-19.”
- She says Clark’s knowledge and skills are required to take on Covid-19 and this is the only reason he maintains his Health portfolio.
- “David Clark is under no illusion that I expect better, and so does New Zealand,” she says.
- As with any data analysis there are always setbacks but at this early stage, we appear to be on track, she says.
- “Now is not the time to change any of our behaviours.”
- As of last night, the wage subsidy scheme has helped over 1 million New Zealanders, with $6.6 billion paid out, Ardern says.