Tuesday 2 November
5.30pm: The top part of Northland will move to alert level 3 at midnight due to the possibility that undetected Covid transmission in the region is occurring.
1 new case was reported in Northland today. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says the new case was a household contact of a case already reported. However, no other epidemiological link between these cases and other Northland cases have been established.
Currently, there are 11 active cases in Northland. The region has been at alert level 2 since October 19.
Hipkins: "Furthermore, these two cases are based in Taipa so are geographically different from the other Northland cases which are centred around Kaipara, Kaikohe and have locations of interest in Whangarei, Kaiwaka and Wellsford."
The two new cases have not been near any of these locations of interest or in contact with other cases, therefore it is unclear how they became infected, Hipkins said.
This means that there is a strong possibility that there is one or more missing link in the chain of transmission and there could be undetected transmission occurring in Northland.
Based on public health advice, the northern part of Northland will be moved into alert level 3 at midnight until at least Monday 8 November, Hipkins said.
A boundary splitting Northland into two different alert level areas has been outlined. The boundary runs through the centre of Hokianga harbour to the Mangamuka Junction on state highway 1, to the Kaeo River Bridge on state highway 10 and East Bay. Northland areas south of this line will remain at alert level 2.
1pm update
The Ministry of Health confirmed 126 new cases today in its 1pm update via statement.
Of today’s 126 new cases, 107 are in Auckland, 18 are in Waikato and 1 is Northland.
The number is a drop from yesterday’s record high daily case count of 162.
So far, 59 of today’s cases have yet to be linked to the wider outbreak.
2 community cases reported yesterday were also incorrectly classified and have been removed from the total community case count and added to the cases at the border.
A previously reported community case was also confirmed as historical, while an MIQ worker who tested positive has been classified as a community case following the investigation.
These changes mean the total number of cases in the Delta outbreak is now 3634. 1704 are recovered.
Currently, Auckland and parts of Waikato are at alert level 3, with the rest of the country at level 2. The areas of Waikato currently at alert level 3 are due to have restrictions eased at midnight to step 2 of level 3. Auckland is due to have its restrictions eased to step 2 of level 3 next Tuesday.