Covid 19 coronavirus: After two cluster deaths, health officials reveal today’s new cases

After two deaths in less than 24 hours linked to the Auckland group, health officials will reveal today’s updated case numbers at 1 p.m.

Yesterday there were five new cases, three of them in the community, and two in managed isolation facilities; six people in the hospital; and 152 in the August group from Auckland.

Today’s case numbers were published in a statement from the Ministry of Health.

Since yesterday’s 1pm update by Chief Health Officer Ashley Bloomfield, two group-related deaths have been confirmed.

at Middlemore Hospital yesterday morning, and the former Cook Islands Prime Minister and General Practitioner

at Auckland City Hospital last night.

They are the 23rd and 24th deaths from Covid-19 in New Zealand and the first since May 24.

Auckland was forced to block alert level 3 after the latest outbreak was first confirmed in four people on August 11, after 102 days of not detecting Covid-19 in the community.

Travel restrictions were relaxed on Sunday when it went from level 3 to level 2, although under an alert level informally called 2.5, social gatherings in the Auckland region are limited to 10 people.

The rest of the country remains at alert level 2, which means that social gatherings of up to 100 people are allowed.

Wearing masks is now mandatory on public transportation and airplanes, and is recommended in areas where social distancing can be difficult, such as in stores.

At alert level 2, the physical distance should be two meters in the public and shops such as supermarkets, and one meter in other places such as workplaces, cafes, restaurants, and gyms.