Coronavirus: New Zealand has 49 confirmed new cases of COVID-19 in the community

New Zealand has 49 new cases of COVID-19 in the community, says Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

It's the lowest daily number of cases in six days, Bloomfield said. 

That brings the total number of active cases in the community to 612.

All of the new cases are in Auckland. The total number of community cases in Auckland is now 597 and 15 in Wellington.

There are 566 cases that have been clearly epidemiologically linked to another case or sub-cluster, and a further 46 for which links are yet to be fully established.

There are 33 people in hospital, including eight patients in intensive care.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced New Zealand's level 4 lockdown would be extended in Auckland for two weeks until 11.59pm on Tuesday 14 September.

While Northland's level 4 lockdown has been extended until tomorrow night.

The rest of the country will drop to level 3 tonight.

The decision to keep Northland in level 4 was in part due to a positive case in Auckland's Warkworth, which is 30km south of the Northland border, Ardern said.

The Government is still investigating how the original transmission occurred from the New South Wales returnee who was staying in MIQ at the Crowne Plaza.