COROMANDEL COVID UPDATE – Monday 23 August 1:30pm

There are 35 additional Covid-19 cases in the community today. Thirty three are in Auckland and 2 in Wellington. It takes the total of active cases to 107. This is not unexpected and will be part of the consideration that Cabinet will be looking at prior to announcing any changes to Level 4 lockdown at 4pm this afternoon.

The Coromandel remains Covid-19 free, this is despite Case A’s visit to the Peninsula from 13 – 15 August. All Covid-19 screening tests taken around Coromandel and nearby locations have so far all reported negative results. Results have been slow coming through the Health Ministry explained this today by saying that due to high volumes of tests, priority was being given to areas with known outbreaks.

All wastewater results on the Coromandel continue to be free of any traces of Covid-19.

Most experts are saying that the numbers are following the expected pattern of the outbreak and are likely to peak during this week.

They have also said it is unlikely that Lockdown will be lifted for New Zealand until later this week and then it is very likely that Auckland and Wellington will remain at Level 4 for some time yet. This will be clarified at a press conference with the Prime Minister and the Director General of Health at 4pm today.