23 Sep 2021

Covid-19 update: 15 new community cases in NZ, all in Auckland, ministry says

1:57 pm on 23 September 2021

There are 15 new community cases of Covid-19, all located in Auckland, the Health Ministry says.

Coronavirus, Covid-19, 3d image illustration, microscopic view of floating virus cells. Influenza, 2019-ncov flu. Concept of a pandemic, outbreak corona virus viral infection.

Photo: 123rf.com

The number brings the total cases in the current Delta variant outbreak to 1123, of which 861 have recovered.

Most of today's community cases are household contacts of current cases, but three are still not linked to other cases.

There were also two new cases today in managed isolation.

Yesterday, the ministry announced 23 new cases - all of which have now been linked.

There are 15 people in hospital today and three in ICU.

Speaking at today's government briefing, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said more than 37,000 essential workers have been tested in Auckland since the start of September, and 10 percent of the population of Clover Park has been tested in the past two days.

Dr Bloomfield said every student and teacher at the school in Upper Hauraki has been tested, and all but one are negative - the final result is pending, not positive.

He said he was lifting the Section 70 order that was covering Upper Hauraki.

"There is no evidence of any spread beyond the household there," he said.

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