Covid 19 coronavirus Delta outbreak: Virus detected in Wellington; North Shore Hospital patient, NZ Post worker infections; lockdown decision today

COVID LATEST
* Covid-19 has been detected in Wellington, the Herald understands
* 22 cases, more than 120 locations of interest (full list below) - and a decision today on whether the nationwide lockdown continues
* Massive loophole: Locals worried as Aucklanders try to book holiday homes in lockdown
* target="_blank">Lockdown Read: Inside the weekend Delta came to town
* Unpicking the cluster - The school family, the teacher, the tradie flatmate and their pals
* Auckland economy losing $100m a day during lockdown, says council
* Matthew Hooton: NZ health system can't look past lockdown
* Liam Dann: Why NZ economy can survive a lengthy lockdown

The Herald understands that positive test results for Covid-19 have popped up in Wellington this morning.

It is unclear at this stage how many, and the next Ministry of Health update is due at 1pm today.

A ministry spokesperson said: "The ministry doesn't comment on speculation. We do comment on confirmed cases and these numbers are provided each day in our 1pm statement or press conference, or as soon as practicable."

These would be the first cases in the outbreak outside of Auckland.

The Capital and Coast District Health Board has referred any questions about the potential Wellington cases to the Ministry of Health, which is due to provide an update at 1pm.

At yesterday's 1pm update, there were 21 cases - 20 in the cluster, and one more in the community with the Air NZ aircrew member.

This morning the Government confirmed a new case - a patient who had been in North Shore Hospital.

The Herald was also told of at least two new cases since the 1pm update yesterday, so cases in Wellington this morning will push the total number of community cases above 24.

Other cases including at Lynfield College, Northcote College and a NZ Post worker have also surfaced, though they may already been counted in yesterday's 1pm update numbers.

Yesterday director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield said wastewater testing results, including from the Wellington region, have so far come back negative.

Cabinet is meeting at 1pm today to consider the latest information to decide whether there will be any changes to alert levels.

Auckland and the Coromandel are expected to remain at level 4 for the full seven days.

The rest of the country was put into alert level 4 until midnight tonight at this stage. Cabinet meets today to discuss whether to extend level 4 in the rest of New Zealand.

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