Coronavirus: New Zealand has 7 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the community

Today New Zealand has 7 new confirmed cases of COVID in the community says Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield.

Six cases are linked to the Auckland cluster - one case is being investigated.

That brings the total number of active cases to 56 in New Zealand, with 37 in the community.

The total number of confirmed cases in New Zealand since the pandemic began is 1,258.

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Tuesday had marked 102 days without transmission in the community.

Last night, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Auckland would remain in level 3 lockdown and the rest of New Zealand in level 2 for an additional 12 days.

She revealed the new outbreak was a strain of Covid-19 not seen in New Zealand before.

Officials are still searching for the origins of the case.