COVID-19 Update: 31 March 2020

We are at

of New Zealand’s four-level COVID-19 alert system. It is likely Level 4 measures will stay in place for a number of weeks. More information on alert levels.

• Everyone must now stay home, except those providing essential services.
• Only make physical contact with those that you live with.

Government COVID-19 Response Briefing

Speakers:

• Sarah Stuart-Black, Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management –  update on Covid-19 national response, civil defence initiatives
• Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Director-General of Health – health update.

Ministry of Health Update:

• No new deaths
• 58 new cases, 48 new confirmed, 10 probable
• 74 recovered
• 14 in hospital. 2 in ICU, stable.
• 1777 average tests per day over last 7 days
• 647 total cases
• Lower testing over weekend
• More testing capacity coming on line
• Still a strong link to overseas travel, he said, with 53 per cent of cases linked, unsurprising given they are still restricting who they test.
• A large number of stocked masks would now be released to DHBs – including for home support workers.
• Bloomfield now parroting Government lines
• We have 533, and there are a number in the private sector available to be used if necessary.

Civil Defence Update:

• A local government team has now been set up
• From today, local helplines will be operated.
• Stop flushing wet wipes, put them in rubbish
• 54 people in temporary accommodation are being flown to Wellington, then to Christchurch
• Tourists should observe isolation
• People not to gather in parks or beaches and to keep social distance.

Yesterday’s details:

• No new deaths
• 76 new cases, 60 new confirmed. 3 suspected
• 63 recovered
• 12 in hospital. 3 to be discharged soon, 2 in ICU.
• 1728 average tests per day over last 7 days
• Still strong link to overseas travel, several clusters
• 589 total cases
• Of  455 cases – 57 per cent over overseas travel, 27 per cent close link to  a known case. Just two per cent or about ten cases are thought to be  cases of community transmission.

COVID-19 – current cases

Summary

View full details of the confirmed cases.

View details of significant COVID-19 clusters.

Confirmed and probable cases by DHB

Download the Map of confirmed and probable cases by DHB (PDF, 282 KB).

Ethnicity percentages of all cases

Transmission

This information refers to the 648 confirmed and probable cases as at 9 am 31 March 2020.

Lab testing