NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Covid 19 Delta outbreak: 20 new cases - Grant Robertson, Ashley Bloomfield with Covid latest and update on terror attack

NZ Herald
5 Sep, 2021 02:09 AM8 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

There are 20 new Covid cases in the community - the lockdown is slowing the outbreak, says Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

COVID LATEST
* A family of five gathered for a Sunday celebration - and all ended up with Covid
* Living with Covid - the country that's 80% vaxxed
* Heather du Plessis-Allan: Govt's story on vaccine rollout is a mess
* Diana Clement: Five ways you can come out of lockdown better off

There are 20 new Covid cases in the community today - the lockdown is slowing the outbreak, says the Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield.

"We are heading in the right direction, but we want to make sure they are the only 20 cases. We can't let even one case slip through the net," said Bloomfield, adding that "this next week is critical" in ensuring people were abiding by the rules and getting tests if they had symptoms.

He and Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson also revealed today that people travelling in and out of the Auckland region for essential work may be soon health-screened at the regional borders.

And Bloomfield said health officials were today working on advice for tomorrow's Cabinet meeting, where it will be decided whether the rest of New Zealand, outside of Auckland, can come down from level 3 to level 2 early this week.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Bloomfield confirmed his team had come up with advice about tightening alert level 2 restrictions, including mask use. Robertson said any decisions on tweaks would be made tomorrow.

Bloomfield said 38 people were now in hospital including six in intensive care, with four requiring ventilation. There are now 801 cases in the outbreak, including 79 recoveries.

The 20 cases today matches the same number as that released on Saturday, and down from daily highs in the 80s a week ago, and 75 last Wednesday.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Bloomfield said the ongoing drop in numbers showed level 4 lockdown measures were working but the highly contagious nature of the virus meant it was important to remain vigilant.

"We are heading in the right direction," said Robertson. "But the job is not over yet. This is why we want to see testing numbers in Auckland increase."

Border screening for essential travellers, workers

Bloomfield said the Government wanted to make sure there was no "leakage" across the Auckland boundary, by screening people who were crossing in and out of the region.

Bloomfield said rather than testing each person this would likely be screening for symptoms, "just as we do with people at the [international] border, at ports and airports".

Discover more

World

Sydney Covid outbreak: Baby, two children fighting for life in ICU

04 Sep 09:30 PM
Opinion

Misinformation pandemic will endure longer than Delta

04 Sep 08:35 PM
World

'Living with Covid': Life in the country that's 80% vaxxed

04 Sep 08:31 PM
New Zealand|politics

NZ's Delta outbreak turns deadly – Auckland woman dies in hospital

04 Sep 05:43 PM

Discussions were happening with the transport industry on screening at Auckland's boundary, Robertson said. A number of businesses were supportive, he said.

"We're not suggesting that you'd be stopping at the boundary to be tested, because that would create a level of congestion that would not be helpful," he said.

"It's not so much testing at the border, but surveillance testing of people crossing the border," Bloomfield said, adding it wouldn't be "a forever thing".

Robertson reiterated the need to stay vigilant despite the drop in daily cases. He said Victoria relaxed restrictions and was now reporting hundreds of cases per day.

He urged people who were a close contact to get tested, along with anyone who had cold or flu symptoms. "With Delta, there is no room for complacency. Let's double down, let's get the job done. We have got to do this once and we have got to do this right," said Robertson.

On the death of a North Shore woman, aged 91 - the first death in this outbreak - Bloomfield endorsed the woman's family's message for others to take the virus seriously and follow public health advice.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

STORY CONTINUES AFTER BLOG

STORY RESUMES

Bloomfield said ongoing investigations showed the total number of unlinked cases had fallen from 58 last Sunday to 30 today.

Analysis of yesterday's cases show 75 per cent were contacts of cases. Six people were potentially infectious in the community.

There were several thousand community swabs taken yesterday, Bloomfield said. Auckland Regional Public Health Service analysis of testing showed more than 20 per cent of the Auckland population had been tested.

Robertson said "a significant amount of effort" had been put into supporting people in Auckland's largest sub-cluster, the church cluster. He said organisations like South Seas were all actively engaged with that cluster of people.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

'Lockdown is doing its job'

The downward trend in cases has prompted modeller Shaun Hendy to say lockdown is "doing its job against Delta", and the possibility of Auckland moving out of alert level 4 this month is "certainly looking more possible".

But experts fear there could still be a long tail, and the current outbreak could continue to produce more cases for weeks.

Meanwhile, August 20 was the last time any Wellington case or contact was active in the community, Bloomfield said.

Robertson gives update on terror attack

Robertson also gave an update on the supermarket terror attack.

No Covid patients had to be moved out of ICU for the terrorist attack victims, Bloomfield said. All three major hospitals in the Auckland region have capacity.

The terrorist, who travelled to New Zealand in 2011 and later received refugee status, came to attention of authorities in 2016 due to his online activity, Robertson said. "We are not looking for anybody else in this situation," he reiterated.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"At every opportunity, we have been looking at ways to deport this individual," Robertson said. The PM raised the issue in the first meeting about him in May 2018, Robertson said.

Robertson said the terrorist was in prison for a large time, and the deportation process stopped because of that. "We have at every turn... gone to every part of the law," he said.

Robertson said he understood some documents the terrorist used to get refugee status had been fabricated, and on that basis Immigration New Zealand had looked into his status.

He did not have details on the alleged fraudulent documents used by the terrorist but a "drawn-out process" then followed.

Robertson said a person could not be detained under the Immigration Act for anything other than deportation. "We are looking at the full sweep of the Immigration Act," Robertson said.

The terrorist's deportation was delayed because he faced criminal charges that "were still live". While the terrorist was in prison, he was largely there on remand, said Robertson, while the legal process was happening.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Robertson said there were attempts throughout the process for mental health issues to be dealt with, and no attempts were able to change the state of mind of an individual with his ideology.

Robertson said at every turn the Government tried to find a remedy to the current legislation.

It was a court order that put him back out into the community, Robertson said, not the Government.

Robertson said he was not aware of any contact between the Government and the man's family, apart from the courts who let his family know about the lifting of suppression orders.

Cabinet will consider tomorrow the possibility of a wider investigation following the man's death. There were a range of reviews that are possible, Robertson said.

Robertson said people outside of INZ recognised possible fraudulent papers used by the terrorist, but he said the current refugee application process was a rigorous system.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Robertson began today's briefing, wishing all dads a Happy Father's Day, as well as birthday wishes for his mother and fellow minister Chris Hipkins. He also paid tribute to essential workers, including police, ambulance officers and supermarket workers associated with the terror attack, as well as those helping the vulnerable in the Covid outbreak.

Covid case death

Today's announcement of latest Covid cases follows the death of a woman, aged in her 90s, at North Shore Hospital. She is the first person in New Zealand to die from the Delta variant of the virus.

"Every death is a reminder of the damage Covid-19 can cause when it gets into our community," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said yesterday.

The woman had underlying health conditions, which meant it was not clinically appropriate for her to receive ventilator or ICU care.

Her family said they were devastated and shocked by the loss of their loved one.

The Ministry of Health said one of the affected family members was urging everyone to take Covid-19 seriously and follow public health advice. His message for New Zealanders is simple: "This is real."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Northland was the latest region to move to alert level 3 on Friday, joining the rest of the country.

Auckland remains under lockdown until a review will be made by Cabinet on Tuesday September 14.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Watch: Black Power gang members farewell Selwyn Robson with stirring haka

12 May 08:38 AM
New Zealand

Black Power members perform a farewell haka for Manurewa homicide victim Selwyn Robson.

Politics

Govt earmarks $100m for students underachieving in maths, new ‘maths intervention’ teachers

12 May 07:30 AM

One tiny baby’s fight to survive

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Watch: Black Power gang members farewell Selwyn Robson with stirring haka

Watch: Black Power gang members farewell Selwyn Robson with stirring haka

12 May 08:38 AM

Members were seen performing a haka as pallbearers carried his coffin into the clubhouse.

Black Power members perform a farewell haka for Manurewa homicide victim Selwyn Robson.

Black Power members perform a farewell haka for Manurewa homicide victim Selwyn Robson.

Govt earmarks $100m for students underachieving in maths, new ‘maths intervention’ teachers

Govt earmarks $100m for students underachieving in maths, new ‘maths intervention’ teachers

12 May 07:30 AM
Abuse in state care: PM defends broken promise, emotional Hipkins slams Govt ‘injustice’

Abuse in state care: PM defends broken promise, emotional Hipkins slams Govt ‘injustice’

12 May 07:26 AM
Connected workers are safer workers 
sponsored

Connected workers are safer workers 

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP