Aucklanders can breathe a sigh of relief, for now at least, after genome testing overnight revealed a direct link between an Auckland student with Covid-19 and a defence worker at the Jet Park quarantine hotel.
It means the country will remain in Alert level one and Aucklanders can now return to the city.
Residents were left rattled yesterday after an AUT student in her 20s, who lives and works in the central city became infected but the Ministry of Health says the fact the current cases are connected is positive news.
It does mean a renewed push for mask wearing, with Cabinet to consider on Monday whether to make it mandatory on all public transport in Auckland, and on all domestic flights around the country.
Here's RNZ political editor, Jane Patterson.
