Addressing the media this afternoon, Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay confirmed 61 new cases in New Zealand. This number includes 14 probable cases and 47 confirmed of Covid-19 and 82 recovered.
Wednesday, April 1, announcement makes the total count in New Zealand to 708.
Fourteen people are in hospital - two are in intensive care but are stable. 82 people have now recovered from the coronavirus. There have been no further deaths.
Dr McElnay said a new case definition will be issued today as a guide for clinical practitioners.
It says those with a respiratory illness consistent with COVID-19 should be considered for testing, "regardless of travel history or contact with a confirmed case".
"But we do rely on the clinical judgement at all times for any assessment of any patient."
Dr McElnay said this would result in more testing, and health authorities were prepared for that.
"Our testing capacity is currently 3700 tests, and we are currently doing an average of 1843 tests per day, based over the last seven days."
By the end of next week, there will be 10 laboratories carrying out tests, up from eight currently, and the Health Ministry hoped to raise testing capacity to 5000 tests.
Health Ministry Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay
Dr McElnay said that while the lower reported numbers looked encouraging, they still expect cases to rise in the next few days. She said the broadening of the case definition meant numbers were likely to rise.
"It's much too early to read into those tests," she said.
She said there was still a strong link to overseas travel and links to confirmed cases. Community transmission is about 1 per cent.
"However we continue to focus on getting better information on the data for community transmission."
She said the 1 per cent community transmission figure was not solid as testing changed and more information was gathered.
The Health Ministry is developing a surveillance plan to monitor community transmission.
Labs for testing are increasing from eight to 10 and will be in place by the end of next week.
Civil Defence director Sarah Stuart-Black said 57 people were moved yesterday from managed isolation in Auckland through Wellington to Christchurch.
She said there will be a charted regional flight this afternoon, and more are expected in the next few days.
All of the people on those flights have health checks before flying and go into self-isolation after they get home.
Stuart-Black said the State of National Emergency can be extended each week, and reminded people that this was distinct from the alert level.
- If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ COVID-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs).
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