COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) update – 11 August, 2020 9pm | Ministry of Health NZ
11 August 2020 9.30pm
Prime Minister Jacinda Adern and The Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield have addressed media tonight in a press conference.
Media were only notified shortly before 9pm.
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There have been four positive cases of Covid-19 outside of managed isolation or quarantine, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. After 102 days without community transmission they are the first cases acquired from an unknown source.
Ardern said we must take a "precautionary" approach as no origin had been found, or link to isolation facilities or people who work at the border. She reiterated the message of "going hard and going early".
"In line with our precautionary approach we will be asking Aucklanders to take swift action with us."
Auckland moves to level 3 restrictions from 12 noon tomorrow. The restrictions will last three days until midnight Friday.
"These three days will give us time to assess the situation, gather information, make sure we have wide-spread contact tracing," Ardern said.
Aucklanders are asked to stay home to stop the spread. "Act as if you have Covid and the people around you have Covid."
Under level 3, people are to work from home unless they are essential workers, and stay in their bubbles.
Bars and restaurants will have to close, and restrictions come in place for funerals and weddings.
The rest of New Zealand is to go into Alert Level 2. The Prime Minister has asked for people living outside Auckland not to come back unless they are returning home. People living in Auckland now are being asked to stay inside Auckland. The level 2 restrictions are in place from midday tomorrow until midnight on Friday.
Ardern said she did not want to "predetermine" what might happen from midnight on Friday. The government would provide the public with an update on Friday.
New Zealand is now activating a resurgence plan.
Click here for more information on Alert Level 3
Click here for more information on Alert Level 2
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Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said the four confirmed cases were within one family.
One person is in their 50s. They live in South Auckland. They have returned two positive results. They have no history of international travel.
Six family members who reside in the same household have been tested. Three returned positive results, three negative.
The government is discussing with the family a possible move to a quarantine facility, Ardern said. All close contacts are in isolation.
While the cases were in household, more than one workplace was involved. The family lives in South Auckland but the work places are outside of South Auckland.
Testing centres in Auckland will operate with more staff and longer hours in coming days, DHBs are also planning "pop up clinics", Bloomfield said.
The Ministry of Health would work closely with DHBs throughout the country to ensure there are enough tests to meet demand.
"As we did in the early days of the virus emerging, we need to stamp it out," Bloomfield said.
People need to practice good hygiene, wash their hands, stay at home if sick and stay 2m from others if possible, Bloomfield said.
People are also encouraged to use a mask "in spaces and places where it is hard to physically distance".
"The case is a wake up call for any complacency that may have set in ... we have done this before and we can and will do it again."
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Both the Prime Minister and Dr Bloomfield have reiterated again how important it is to download the Contact Tracing App.
Click here for link to download the app