New Zealand reported seven new cases of Covid-19 today, with the Ministry aiming for 70,000 tests to be completed over the next week.
Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield gives today's Covid-19 update. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
All of the new cases reported today have been linked to the latest cluster in Auckland, with two cases linked to a church and two from household contacts.
Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said there were 2446 close contacts associated with the cluster, of which 2390 had been contacted and were self-isolating. The remaining 56 were being contacted, he said.
There were 160 people linked to the cluster in a quarantine facility, including 89 who tested positive. Eight people were in hospital, with three people in a critical condition and three in intensive care.
One previously active case had recovered, which brought the total number of active cases in the country to 129.
New Zealand's total number of confirmed cases reached 1339 today, with 4434 tests processed in labs yesterday bringing total test numbers to 701,504.
Health Minister Chris Hipkins said a new target of an additional 70,000 tests across the country was in place for the next seven days, with South Auckland named as a specific target of community testing. Six more mobile testing units will be added in the area.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Morning Report today that Auckland wouldn't have to wait until there were no more cases of Covid-19 before it could move out of level 3.
She said the tail of the Auckland cluster was likely to be long, with previous smaller clusters taking up to 13 weeks to end.
She said many of the new cases were among family members or already-isolated contacts of Covid patients, so the situation was largely controlled.
PM not considering further mask rules
The Prime Minister also said she was not considering making mask use mandatory in bars and restaurants at this stage.
From Monday, masks must be worn on public transport and in ride share vehicles around the country. Children will not be required to wear masks, but an exact age is being worked on.
Some academics, including leading public health professor Nick Wilson, have recommended more widespread mask use.
But Ardern said not everyone shared the same view and masks were not a substitute for physical distancing, which is already in place in hospitality venues.
Some bus drivers said they wanted the government to provide security guards to enforce mask rules.
Jared Abbott from FIRST Union, which represents bus drivers, said drivers copped a lot of abuse during lockdown trying to enforce social distancing rules.
He said this could get worse when they were required to make people wear masks too and they wanted backup from security guards to keep themselves safe.
Wellington region's public transport head was still working out how to implement mask rules but said police, not staff, would deal with safety breaches.
Greater Wellington regional council general manager of public transport Scott Gallacher said they had made a bulk order for PPE and had "more than sufficient" supplies for all Metlink staff.
The council would be working with the government on whether to have spare masks to give to passengers and, if not, whether people without a mask who needed to board a bus would be allowed to do so.
Flights cancelled, airlines warn of further woes
Airlines servicing New Zealand's domestic travel market have warned that more flights may be cancelled - and those on offer would likely be more expensive than usual. The warning came as STA travel went into voluntary liquidation, leaving travellers out of pocket.
Jetstar has temporarily suspended domestic flights until 6 September as a result of the extension to restrictions and the implication for air travel.
Limiting the number of people allowed on an aircraft makes the flights unviable, the airline said in a statement.
"As a low cost carrier, Jetstar is unable to continue its operations in New Zealand whilst there is a requirement for airlines to keep the middle seat free."
Customers with flights that will be impacted will be contacted by the carrier and asked to changed dates at no extra cost (to fly between 7 and 24 September), or receive a voucher equal to the full amount of the booking.
Jetstar has cancelled all domestic flights until 6 September. Photo: Supplied / Jetstar
Air New Zealand's chief executive Greg Foran warned today that the airline's fleet could not operate commercially under the current Covid restrictions.
He said physical distancing requirements meant they could only sell less than half of the available seats on turboprops and two thirds of the seats on jets.
If crews wore PPE and passengers wore masks, Foran said the airline could operate safetly without distancing.
Air New Zealand also warned that it wouldn't be able to offer its lowest fares while planes were flying well below full capacity.
Air Chathams also warned that the cost of domestic travel could go up due to social distancing rules.
It said rules would limit numbers and compound the commercial pain airlines were still feeling from the first lockdown.
Chief executive Duane Emeny said the rules were impractical and should be reviewed and replaced with mandatory hygiene rules and mask use.
Hospitality sector 'in survival mode', media funding proposal scrapped
Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Julie White said the sector was bracing for the ripple effect of an extended lockdown in Auckland.
She said many hospitality businesses were in survival mode, and 10 percent across the country were likely to have to shut up shop, as they struggled to pay bills and keep staff employed.
File photo. Photo: 123RF
National Party leader Judith Collins told media this morning the extension to restrictions was hard for businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector, and National was calling for the wage subsidy to be extended for four more days.
"We would support the government if they decide to change their minds."
Paul Goldsmith said the wage subsidy seemed to be the best way to support businesses during lockdown. "If you are telling businesses that they can't trade there does need to be some type of support...you cannot do nothing."
Media companies in New Zealand have also struggled due to lockdowns and plans for a second tranche of support were scrapped after coalition partners failed to reach consensus.
In April, the government gave media organisations a $50 million lifeline as they struggled through the first Covid-19 lockdown.
It included $21m to cut transmission fees for broadcast media for six months, $16m to waive media companies contributions to New Zealand On Air and $11m for "targeted assistance".
Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Kris Faafoi said at the time more help was needed and a second funding package was in the works.
Faafoi has today admitted a proposal never made it to Cabinet.
"We had some conversations obviously with our support partners, but... we weren't able to reach consensus," he said.
The level of support needed had changed since the lockdown and media companies were doing better than expected, Faafoi said.