For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here.<\/p>\n
New Zealand\u2019s daily COVID-19 numbers continue to provide good news as the nation looks ahead to start stepping down alert levels.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson and Director General of Heath Dr Ashley Bloomfield reported 20 new cases in the community, all in the Auckland region.<\/p>\n
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Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield reported that new COVID case numbers had stayed at 20 on Sunday.<\/span>Credit:<\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n On Saturday authorities reported 20 new cases, and the first death from the virus in 2021.<\/p>\n Daily case numbers have been declining since the outbreak reached its peak of 83 cases last Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ongoing fall in numbers is proving that alert level 4 in Auckland and our public health measures are rapidly slowing the spread of the virus, however it is not through yet and we need to remain extra vigilant,\u201d Bloomfield told a televised briefing.<\/p>\n About 1.7 million people in Auckland have been in strict level 4 lockdown since the outbreak began in mid-August. Curbs have been eased since in the rest of the country, but schools, offices, restaurants and all public venues remain shut.<\/p>\n On Monday, cabinet will decide on alert levels for the rest of the country outside of Auckland. Auckland is to remain in full lockdown until at least September 13.<\/p>\n The decision will be announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at 4pm on Monday.<\/p>\n The outbreak has resulted in a total of 801 infections in the New Zealand community.<\/p>\n There are currently 30 cases so far unlinked to a current cluster, down from 59 a week ago.<\/p>\n 38 people are in hospital, 6 are in an ICU and four are being ventilated.<\/p>\n Of the 20 cases, six were infectious while in the community.<\/p>\n There were no unexpected results in wastewater testing reported.<\/p>\n There were more than 77,000 vaccine doses administered on Saturday.<\/p>\n