Coronavirus: New Zealand will remain at alert level 4

The Prime Minister has revealed New Zealand's level 4 lockdown will be extended nationwide until 11.59pm on Tuesday 24 August, after confirmation the Covid-19 outbreak has spread to Wellington.

The government will decide early next week - based on the latest cases and information - whether to reduce levels or extend by region.

Earlier today it was confirmed the Delta outbreak had ballooned to at least 31 community cases, with officials warning there would be more cases.

Of the 31, 19 cases are now confirmed as part of the Auckland outbreak, with the remaining 12 under investigation to confirm the linkage to the outbreak.

Genome sequencing has confirmed New Zealand's Covid-19 outbreak has come from New South Wales, Australia.

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Genome sequencing also revealed the current positive cases are linked to a recent returnee from Sydney on a managed red zone flight on August 7th.

The traveller returned a positive result on August 9th and was transferred from Crowne Plaza to Jet Park on that same day. They were later taken to Middlemore Hospital on 16th August.

Kiwis are being urged to only leave home if needed and to wear a mask when they do.

For more information visit covid19.govt.nz.