Coronavirus: NZ has 24 confirmed new cases of COVID-19 in the community

New Zealand has 24 new cases of Covid-19 in the community, says Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay.

Of today's new cases 18 are in Auckland, while six are in Waikato.

Today a total of 1,086 cases are now reported as having recovered from Covid-19.

That brings the total number of active cases in the community to 295 (the total number of cases in this outbreak is now 1,381).

There are 32 people in hospital, including seven patients in intensive care.

Auckland and parts of Waikato (Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Ngaruawahia, Hamilton city and Huntly) are currently at alert level 3.

Yesterday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern revealed an Auckland road map that effectively showed how the city would come out of a strict alert level 3 as we know it, starting with slightly relaxed restrictions at 11.59pm tonight.

The rest of the country is at alert level 2.

New Zealand has had 4,050 confirmed cases since the pandemic began last year.