Wednesday 29 September
There are 45 new cases of Covid-19 today, all in Auckland.
33 cases are known to be household or close contacts of identified cases.
12 cases are unlinked but 6 of those have potential links.
Health Director General Dr Ashley Bloomfield and Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins gave the 1pm announcement.
Today’s new cases bring the total number in the current outbreak to 1230.
Bloomfield says the jump in the number of cases today was expected and high testing numbers meant these cases could be identified.
One of the cases reported today also visited the Waitakere Hospital on Saturday for a non-covid related visit.
Further, many of the linked cases have been self-isolating at home or in an MIQ facility, Bloomfield says.
He also says some of today’s cases may have been working at essential or permitted businesses, at alert level 3 in Auckland, during their infectious period.
It is also important people in Auckland abide by the alert level 3 restrictions, particularly wearing face coverings and minimising contact with others, he says.
The Ministry of Health is extending surveillance testing to businesses where workers are permitted at work during alert level 3. Construction, hospitality and retail workers are being asked to get two test’s at least five days apart in the coming weeks.
For an updated list of locations of interest, click here to visit the Ministry of Health website.
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