Twenty-one new cases were announced today with numbers tipped to rise next week; a security guard is spat on at a supermarket; students at two Auckland schools and a SkyCity casino employee test positive.
From top left: A daily record number of vaccinations and tests; unhappy Wallabies coach Dave Rennie and a scare for a security guard at a Christchurch supermarket. Photo: AFP / RNZ / Photosport
Three of the new cases are in Wellington, while the rest are in Auckland. It means the current outbreak now totals 51.
An employee of SkyCity casino has also been confirmed positive this evening. They were working in a gaming room early on the morning of 14 August, a time when the casino has already been labelled a place of interest due to a positive Covid-19 case visiting then.
A University of Auckland student who has tested positive has been linked to a ball held at Aotea Centre on 14 August reportedly attended by up to 500 students, as well as other locations.
The student travelled to Wellington on Thursday to stay with their family. Students at Waipārūrū Hall where the student was living are self-isolating in their rooms.
A bus driver linked to Royal Oak Intermediate School in Auckland has tested positive, and contact tracers are working to identify the students who were on the bus, as they are considered close contacts.
The driver from Go Bus was on the Onehunga afternoon run last Monday from 3pm to 4pm.
Two South Auckland secondary schools have each confirmed that one of their students has tested positive.
Catholic girls' secondary school McAuley High School in Ōtāhuhu and Catholic boys' secondary school De La Salle College in Māngere both have students who have tested positive for Covid-19 and were at school when infectious on 17 August.
More than 1000 staff and students are now considered close contacts and must stay in isolation at home for 14 days.
Photo: Google Maps
Contacts expected to number 10,000
At a media briefing today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she still expected cases to rise through to next week before they started to fall away.
The Health Ministry expects there will be 10,000 close contacts of the current cluster by tonight.
Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay said the majority of those contacts are located in Auckland and Waikato regions with a small proportion located in the rest of the North Island and the South Island.
She said public health staff are rapidly interviewing cases to find out how they were infected and to determine more details of their movements.
"They're working tirelessly to investigate the cases."
Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone
Meanwhile, several new locations of interest in Wellington and a second flight into the city of concern have also been announced today.
Locations include supermarkets in Kilbirnie and Newtown, while a second flight to Wellington, Flight NZ443 from 4.30 to 5.30pm on Thursday has been added. Several petrol stations between Auckland and Wellington have been added as well, including stations in Bulls, Waiorou and Tokoroa.
A full list can be seen on the Ministry's website.
Ordeal for security guard
A security guard at Countdown Church Corner in Christchurch is being tested for Covid-19 after a customer spat at him after being refused entry.
Countdown spokeswoman Kiri Hannifin said the incident happened yesterday and was incredibly disappointing.
She said the 58-year-old man, who had been previously trespassed for abusive behaviour, was refused entry to the store for not wearing a face covering.
He then reportedly spat on the security guard and refused to leave, prompting a police callout.
He has been charged with assault, threatening to kill, resisting arrest and has been issued an infringement notice for a Covid-19 related breach.
Since the lockdown started, 17 people have been charged with 20 offences. Eleven are for failing to comply with a Covid-19 order, seven for failing to comply with a direction, prohibition and restriction and two for Health Act breaches.
As well, police have issued 53 formal warnings and there have been 70 infringements nationwide, including 61 people who failed to remain at home and five for people who failed to wear a face covering.
Vaccinations and testing
The country hit two records yesterday - the highest number of vaccines (56,843) and tests (41,464).
Ardern said 72 percent of NZers aged 40+ are either booked or have been vaccinated with at least one dose.
"This is great progress," Ardern said.
More than 150,000 vaccination bookings were made yesterday.
Extra testing sites have been set up in Auckland and Wellington, including centres specifically for contacts.
It's hoped this will cut down on people's waiting times, the prime minister said.
A man helps with traffic management at a testing centre in Avondale in Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Dr McElnay said there had also been Covid-19 found in wastewater testing in Warkworth, north of Auckland. Extra wastewater testing is being taken from Warkworth and Snells Beach today and tomorrow.
There are 41 sites around the country where wastewater testing is being done. Covid-19 continues to be detected in Auckland's wastewater.
Anger over All Blacks' no show
Coach Dave Rennie says he is "bloody angry" about New Zealand cancelling the teams' Bledisloe Cup match without telling the Wallabies.
The All Blacks will not travel to Perth for the 28 August fixture because of Covid-19 restrictions.
"I'm bloody angry. Our boys all found out through social media," said Rennie.
"I thought 'New Zealand Rugby didn't even have the respect to consult Rugby Australia about their decision', so that's hugely disappointing."
Meanwhile South African Rugby has confirmed it has offered to host the remainder of the Rugby Championship.