There are 12 new cases and one probable case of Covid-19 in Auckland and Waikato today, Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has revealed at today's daily briefing.
One of the new cases is in hospital.
Two of the 13 new cases are in Tokoroa.
"These two people tested positive after being followed up as close contacts from a family member who is one of the Auckland cases, so part of that Auckland cluster," Bloomfield said.
He said 12 of the 13 new cases have already been linked to existing cases and to the Auckland cluster. The 13th case is in hospital and the link is still under investigation.
Two more schools and a preschool in Auckland have closed, after a student in each tested positive.
The Waikato DHB's public health unit said the two people who tested positive in Tokoroa are from the same household who had contact with two people from Auckland. They were the same people who visited a rest home in Morrinsville on a trip out of Auckland.
Resident and staff members at that aged care facility have tested negative.
The visit occurred while they were feeling well and before they were aware of any potential exposure or that they were infectious, Dr Bloomfield said.
He said others in that household had tested negative. Staff at the DHB are providing support to the family, who are all self-isolating. Arrangements are being made to establish a bespoke quarantine arrangement for their wider family and a testing station will also be up and running in Tokoroa over the weekend.
All positive cases in Auckland are being asked to transfer to the Auckland quarantine facility.
Dr Bloomfield said a record 15,703 tests were processed yesterday, with 26,000 tests taken in the past 48 hours.
The Health Minister said testing had ramped up at the borders and all frontline workers will be tested by end of today.
There are now a total of 48 active cases, with 30 linked to the community outbreak.
At today's briefing, Dr Bloomfield reiterated the problem was the virus not the people.
Dr Bloomfield said there had been reports that health workers had been verbally abused and that was "unacceptable".
There were 13 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed in the Auckland community yesterday with one case confirmed in managed isolation.
The Auckland region is at alert level 3, the rest of the country is at alert level 2 and rest homes are at alert level 4 after a new cluster of community transmission was identified in the Auckland region earlier this week.
Later today at 5.30pm, the country will find out about any further alert level changes.
Cabinet is meeting at 3pm to consider the latest Covid-19 test results and advice from the director general of health.
Following that meeting the prime minister will address the media at Parliament.
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