Coronavirus: Today New Zealand has 9 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the community

Today New Zealand has 9 new confirmed cases of COVID in the community and zero new cases in managed isolation says Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield.

All 9 community cases are Auckland-based and none have travelled outside of the region. All have a connection to the existing cluster.

There are five people in hospital.

That brings the total number of active cases to 78 in New Zealand, with 58 in the community.

The total number of confirmed cases in New Zealand since the pandemic began is 1,280.

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Tuesday had marked 102 days without transmission in the community.

On Friday 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.