New Zealand on Sunday reported 13 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus for the last 24 hours, as the country’s first outbreak in months continues to grow.
All but one of the new cases were community transmissions and appeared to be linked to a cluster in Auckland where the most recent outbreak started, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a media briefing in Wellington.
The 13th infected person was a traveller returning from abroad and in a managed quarantine.
The new cases bring the number of active cases in New Zealand to 69. Since the start of the year, the country has recorded 1,271 cases, Dr Bloomfield said on Sunday.
A lockdown in Auckland was extended for nearly two weeks on Friday as more cases were discovered.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Auckland would remain in Level 3 lockdown, and the rest of the country in Level 2, until 11:59pm on 26 August.
She said the extension would buy authorities more time to stop the Auckland cluster from growing.
Dr Bloomfield on Saturday revealed they were investigating whether the fresh outbreak was linked to a cold storage facility in Melbourne.
New Zealand health authorities have been in contact with their counterparts in Victoria, he said, and genome sequencing was underway "to see if there is any possible linkage there".
"We are looking at that possibility, it’s part of the overall puzzle and we are leaving no stone unturned."
With reporting by Reuters.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
