
Maori: 
A
Welcome to Red Bee Media's
Live Remote Broadcasting
Service.
Kia ora koutou katou. Good
evening, everyone. After 102
days we have our first cases
of COVID-19 outside of a
managed isolation or
quarantine facility in New
Zealand. Shortly, I will ask
Dr Bloomfield to set out the
details of the cases involved.
While we have all worked
incredibly hard to prevent
this scenario, we have also
planned and prepared for it.
We have a resurgence plan that
we are now activating. That
plan is something we have now
learned to date about
COVID-19. It is also based
from what we've seen on
resurgence overseas. Those
plans, though, are of course
based on what we know about
the cases in front of us. So I
will pass to Dr Bloomfield,
who will set out those
details. Then I will share
with you the decisions that
have been made and response
through meetings with
officials, and also after
ministers convened this
evening, and set out what it
will mean for everyone. First,
Dr Bloomfield.
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Thank
you, Prime Minister. Kia ora.
So as the PM has said, we
actually have four confirmed
cases of COVID-19 in one
family acquired from an
unknown source. The first case
to present was a person in
their 50s, who lives in South
Auckland. That person was
swabbed yesterday when they
presented to their general
practitioner, with symptoms.
That test was processed twice
and returned positive, and a
second swab today also
returned a positive result.
Importantly, the person has no
history of overseas travel and
as per our usual protocol, we
worked very closely with
Auckland Regional Public
Health to interview the
person. We've sprung into
action and, in fact, all those
family members residing in the
same household - there were
another six - were all tested
and three of the six have
returned positive test
results. The other three were
negative.
Other close contacts from
workplaces have already been
contacted and put into
self-isolation, and are being
tested whether symptomatic or
asymptomatic. All close
contacts remain in
self-isolation for 14 days,
regardless of their test
result. While casual contacts
go into self-isolation and can
only leave self-isolation once
they return a negative test.
In addition, we are working
over the next few days to test
all people working at our
borders and in our managed
isolation facilities to help
us trace the possible origin
of this case where we don't
currently know the source.
Now, there are no barriers to
anyone who has cold or
flu-like symptoms getting
tested. Testing is free. As I
have said previously, and it's
even more relevant now, if you
are offered a test, please
take it. In Auckland, the four
community testing centres are
Northcote, Grafton, Henderson
and Wirri. Will be operating
with more staff and longer
hours over the coming days.
The testing centres in Wanaka
and DHBs will be planning
pop-up clinics over the coming
days and will publish location
and hours of these clinics. We
will work closely with DHBs
and primary care around the
country to ensure additional
testing capacity is available
to meet the expected increase
in demand from people with
symptoms, and I strongly
encourage any New Zealander
with symptoms, whether in the
Auckland region or outside it,
to please be tested. We have
been saying for some weeks, it
was inevitable that New
Zealand would get another case
of community transmission.
This is a tricky virus. We
have been working on the basis
that it could be at any time
and been preparing for that
time, that time is now. The
health system is well prepared
and the important thing now is
that we stop the spread of the
virus in our community. As we
did in the early days of the
virus emerging, we need to
stamp it out. There are things
that every single New
Zealander now needs to do. We
have done these before.
Continue or get back to
stringent hand hygiene -
washing for 20 seconds with
soap and water, or regular use
of an alcohol-based hand gel,
sneeze or cough into your
elbow. If you or a family
member are unwell, wherever
you leave in New Zealand, stay
at home and seek advice from
your GP or healthline about
getting a test. Practise
physical distancing of two
metres wherever possible. And,
most recently, our advice
around the use of masks, which
has been updated, please
consider wearing a mask in
spaces or places where it is
hard to fiscally distance. If
you have any concerns, please
seek advice from Healthline or
your GP. If you have not
already, please take this
opportunity to download the NC
COVID trace app, it will be an
essential tool of contacting
you if we need to as part of
our follow-up in this case.
Finally, our contact tracing
team will of course be in
contact with anyone who may be
identified as a contact
whether casual or close with
this space. Please respond if
you're contacted, return the
call, and assist in you are --
in our efforts to identify,
isolate any possible cases. We
cannot afford to let this
virus spread. We are working
to not let it happen here.
That what has happened in
other places that have seen
resurgences like this. We have
done this before and we can,
and will, do it again. Thank
you, Prime Minister.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Thank you.
As you will have heard from Dr
Bloomfield, we have four
cases, all in one household.
More than one workplace,
however, is involved. Contact
tracing is under way but,
currently, we know that of
those workplaces we are not
talking about one distinct
suburb in Auckland who may
have been affected by those
who tested positive. You will
have also heard the cases
leave questions still to be
answered. The most important
question is tracing this case
back to its original origin.
The reason that is important
is when we do that, we can
much more certain about
tracing and isolating all
close contacts. When we can't
do that, it means we have to
take a precautionary approach.
At this stage we have not yet
been able to determine the
source of these cases. There
is no immediate link that we
have found, as yet, to a
managed isolation facility
that we're aware of. And there
is no yet known connection to
any high-risk individual such
as those who work at our
border. Therefore, we need to
take a much more cautionary
approach until we can find the
source of this case, and make
sure that we reduce the risk
of wider spread. One of the
most important lessons we've
learned from overseas is the
need to go hard and go early
and stamp out flare-ups to
avoid the risk of wider
outbreak. As disruptive as it
is, a strong and rapid health
response remains the best
long-term economic response.
In line with our precautionary
approach, we will be asking
Aucklanders to take swift
action with us. As of 12 noon
tomorrow, Wednesday August 12,
we will be moving Auckland to
level 3 restrictions for a
period of three days until
midnight on Friday. These
three days will give us time
to assess the situation,
gather information, make sure
we have widespread contact
tracing so we can find out
more about how this case arose
and make decisions on how to
respond to it once we have
further information. Let me
set out what that means for
Aucklanders and the rest of
New Zealand. We are asking
people in Auckland to stay
home to stop the spread. This
means doing the simple things
that you will already be
familiar with to prevent
picking up the virus or
passing it on to others.
First, act as if you have
COVID and as if the people
around you have COVID. At
level 3, you're asked to stay
at home in your bubble, other
than for essential movement,
such as going to the
supermarket or local
recreation. If you are in
Auckland, you must work from
home unless you are an
essential service worker. All
schools and childcare
facilities in Auckland are
closed as of tomorrow morning,
except for the children of
essential service workers, and
those who are involved will
remember that at level 3, with
eallow -- we allow you to
access schools and early
childhood for level 3 for
essential service workers
only.
All public facilities, bars,
restaurants and businesses
must close by midday tomorrow.
Gatherings of more than 10
people in Auckland, again,
will be restricted and are
restricted again for funerals,
tangi Hanga and wedding
services only. And the rest of
the country's gatherings, of
course though, I'll outline in
further detail momentarily.
Travelling into Auckland is
prohibited unless you normally
reside there and are
travelling home. If you are
currently in Auckland but do
not normally reside there, you
also can leave to go home. But
we are asking you to be very
conscious of your health and
if you begin to display any
symptoms, please get tested.
We are defining the area
covered as Auckland and
covered by level 3
restrictions as the geographic
boundary of the Auckland Super
City which extends from
Welsford in the north to puck
-- Pukakohe in the south. All
key services, supermarkets,
pharmacies, medical centres,
they do remain open. So food
and supplies will continue to
be readily available. Food
delivery is also available as
you will recall at level 3.
Please do not rush to the
supermarket tonight. You'll
recall, as when we were in
level 3 on the last occasion,
supermarkets will be open,
there will be ample stock on
the shelves. There is no
reason to go out and make any
purchases this evening. If you
operated as an essential
service under level 4 and
level 3 last time, then those
are the settings we revert to
under level 3 again. If in
doubt, stay at home tomorrow
until you have clarity from
your employer.
That then brings me to the
rest of New Zealand. We will
be moving the rest of the
country outside of Auckland to
level 2. This will come into
place from midday tomorrow and
run through till midnight on
Friday. So the same period of
time that we applying
restrictions for Auckland.
That means social distancing
applies and mass gatherings in
that time will need to be
limited to 100 people. And, of
course, all of the other
guidance you'll be used to
from level 2 applies again as
well. I know that this
information will be very
difficult to receive. We had
all hoped not to find
ourselves in this position
again. But we had also
prepared for it. And as a
team, we have also been here
before. We know if we have a
plan and stick to it, we can
work our way through very
difficult and unknown
situations. Before I finish, I
want to talk briefly about
some of the additional plans
that we have in place. As the
Director-General has set out,
Auckland Regional Health will
be standing up a mass testing
programme across the region,
where we will seek to test
tens of thousands of people
over the coming days in order
to understand any potential
unidentified cases in the
community. It's our intention
to test everyone who works in
the border and everyone who
works in managed isolation
facilities, with a focus on
Auckland. We will also be
undertaking wide testing of
those who are symptomatic in
Auckland. Please, though, I
ask you don't visit your GP or
a community testing station if
you are perfectly well. We are
seeking to test those who are
symptomatic and those who are
working in those high-risk
areas. More details of the
locations of these CBACs and
guidance on who should get a
test we'll be providing again
in the morning.
A final word on mask use. We
now know that these can be
effective in the reducing the
spread of COVID. If you're in
Auckland, we ask that you use
a mask when you're accessing
essential services. For the
rest of the country, we advise
their use if you're in a place
where social distancing is
difficult - so, for instance,
public transport. Let me
finish by saying this, while
this initial 3-day lockdown
will mainly affect the
Auckland region, I am asking
the team of five million to
stand ready again as well.
Together, we've beaten the
virus before and with fast
action and by acting together,
we can do so again. We have
come too far to go backwards.
I'm asking New Zealanders to
once again be strong and be
kind. If you know someone in
Auckland, give them a call,
reach out, check that they are
OK. If you are in Auckland,
please make sure that your
neighbours are OK, ensure
they're looked after and that
they have the supplies and the
support they need. We know
what to do. We know what to do
because we've successfully
done it before. Please, stay
home if you're in Auckland: Be
vigilant. We will get through
this. We're happy to take es.
REPORTER: If you don't trace
the source of these four
people over the next four
days, is it likely that those
level 3 restrictions will be
extended until you find the
source?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Of course,
it is about gathering as much
information as possible in the
next three days and we won't
just do that through contact
tracing. We will also do that
through wide testing, not only
of those, obviously, working
in those high risk areas and
that's why we intend to test
everyone at the border, but
also in our managed isolation
facilities, and those
symptomatic. If we are unable
to identify the source, what
we should identify is whether
or not we have wider
geographic spread and whether
or not we have a number of
cases beyond the family that
has been identified here. Dr
Bloomfield.
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: I think
you've summarised it well,
Prime Minister. There are two
things we want to do and we'll
be working apace to do over
the next three days. The first
is to identify the extent of
this outbreak and control it.
The second is to identify the
source. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: (SPEAKS
INDISTINCTLY).
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I'll leave
that to Dr Bloomfield, who has
the information. Of course,
those workplaces that are
affected are being contacted.
But I think the important
point I wanted to make is that
it would not have been
possible to successfully
isolate one small part of
Auckland. From the interviews
that have been undertaken, a
precautionary approach does
point to us needing,
unfortunately, to ask all of
Auckland to take a
precautionary approach with
us. ■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: In
other words, has workplaces
had any connection to travel
in any way?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Not that I
we have identified but those
interviews have been undertake
within the family and the
original case as we speak.
From there, moving into the
wider workplace and
interviewing others. Dr
Bloomfield?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Two
things to say there, and I
don't have the detail of the
workplaces with me but the two
workplaces in question,
immediate action has been
taken to identify close
contacts, isolate those people
and, in fact, shut down one of
the workplaces so that further
wide testing can happen.
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: Are
they customer-facing? Are they
workplaces where you would see
a lot of people coming in and
out?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Just
based on the conversations
I've had, no they're not.
Neither are. REPORTER: What
about people who've recently
been to Auckland such as
yourself?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes. That's
where we're asking people to
be very mindful of their own
health and wellbeing. We're
asking that if they feel
unwell, immediately isolate,
seek advice and seek a test if
that's the advice you receive.
But at this stage, that's the
extent of the advice for those
who have recently been in
Auckland. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: So obviously you're
on the campaign trial, heading
up lots of different parts of
the country. Will you change
your plan...
>>
JACINDA ARDERN: Yes, I will. I
anticipate over the next three
days I'll likely be based in
Wellington. (INAUDIBLE
QUESTION)
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I'm not
going to set out ot this
stage. The view was move
quickly with a precautiously
approach. With the hope, of
course, that we can ascertain
that information that will be
able to limit the effect on
other New Zealanders as much
as possible. The alternative
is to wait. That runs the
risk, if we do have a wider
number of individuals
affected, of the spread
continuing to escalate.
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: Why
has it taken so long for you
to tell the public?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: So I was
advised at 4:00 this afternoon
whilst I was in the van
travelling directly here to
Wellington. In that time,
additional interviewing took
place of those individuals to
see if we could ascertain
their connection to any
high-risk areas such as
borders because that may have
given us the option of ice --
contacting an isolating. That
hasn't happened. Also, we
spoke to ministers, to ensure
the orders to be in place were
drafted and unless the
information was correct to
provide the public. We have
moved very, very quickly in
that space of time. Yes?
Derrick? REPORTER: If all
Aucklanders are supposed to
stay at home, the US -- does
that mean no movement in and
out of the super city?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: That's
correct. We're asking only
those to return home to enter
Auckland and only those
leaving to go home to exit
Auckland. Those who reside
there, we are asking to stay
there. The whole point of this
precautionary approach is to
try and isolate any potential
spread outside of that region
and into other areas.
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: How
likely is that these four
cases are self-contained or
can the public expect we might
see more cases in the coming
days?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Given we
haven't yet identified the
original source case - and
I'll Dr Bloomfield talk more -
I'd say it is likely we will
see other cases as we start
tracing round.
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Yes,
we're expecting to see other
cases. As was the situation
earlier in the year, we want
to find all those other cases
as soon as possible, and
isolate - identify and isolate
any contacts. Hence, the work
that is going on - that has
been going on since 3:00 today
to ramp up the capacity and
capability for testing, both
this evening, including at
urgent care centres across
Auckland, but also in the
morning. And there'll be
pop-up clinics as well as
longer hours and more
extensive testing at those
existing clinics.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Henry?
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: Given
the low-level of surveillance
testing and given the fact
that this case (SPEAKS
INDISTINCTLY), can we be sure
that COVID ever really was
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) or is
there the possibility that has
been somewhere in Auckland
since March?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: I think
if you reflect back to that
period of time when we were
coming down through level 3
and 2, we did extensive
testing right across the
country. And we - including a
broad ethnicity spread as
well. So, yes, I think we can
be confident. The fact that
we've gone over 100 days,
again, I think lends - if you
look at the number of tests
that have been done and the
geographical and ethnicity
spread of those tests - I
think we can be very
confident. So this is - but
this is why we have continued
that community surveillance
testing of symptomatic people
and it shows it was the right
thing to do. We also have a
clear plan in place about what
to do.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Keeping in
mind that even if you've got
undetected cases in your
community, very unfortunately,
at some point one will elevate
and escalate into your - into
your hospital system. We have
not seen that. But that's the
other indicator, if you've got
undetected transmission in
your community, and we have
not seen that. Claire?
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER:
Realistically, if you are
expecting more cases to come
up, the decision at the end of
the three days will be whether
or not there was another two
weeks or so at level 3 for
Auckland or a move to level 4
if there are more cases?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Again, I
don't wish to pre-determine
that at this point. If, for
instance, there's a scenario
where we're able to rapidly
identify the source case, we
have confidence of our level
of isolation and contact
tracing of all close contacts
around that case, that is a
potential scenario. But,
again, that is why we're
giving ourselves that 72 hours
to do that large-scale, rapid
testing, isolation and contact
tracing. And we will be
updating everyone on Friday
about what our expectations
are of the next step. In the
meantime, daily updates will
give people a sense of the
progress that's been made and
the information we're able to
gather. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: Dr Bloomfield, are
you comfortable with that 72
hours or did you advise the
government that it should in
fact be longer than that?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: In fact,
there was very quick and
unanimous agreement amongst
officials and also in our
discussions with our
colleagues in Auckland that
the three days would give us a
good amount of time to do
quite extensive testing and
the contact tracing, which is
already well under way, to
identify any possible close
contacts and casual contacts,
have them tested. And so the
three days is a good amount of
time for us to be able to get
good information about the
extent of the outbreak and
whether it is contained and
also the link back to where
that case might have come
from.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Just
keeping in mind, these are
very significant decisions.
Moving an entire city and New
Zealand's largest city into
level 3 restrictions is not a
decision we take lightly. We
need to make sure we have as
much information as possible.
And so this - and this move
means that we can be cautious
but also make sure that we
have more information before
we make any decisions that
have a longer-term impact. We
also are mindful if we have
decisions that have a
longer-term impact at that
point we need to be talking
about other financial supports
and so on that would be
necessary. This gives us a
window have a good assessment
over what it is that has
emerged today. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: On the logistics of
level 3 again, last time there
were butchers and green
groceries, that sort of came
into controversy. Are we
looking at keeping them closed
or this time will they allow
to open?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We've kept
the same restrictions as you
will recall at level 3 are in
place again at level 3. Do
keep in mind that that allows
take-aways and services that
weren't able to be in place at
level 4.
>> ■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: Can
you tell us more about the
cases, what are the age of the
confirmed cases?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: At this
point, I would rather do that
tomorrow because I would like
to have had a discussion with
the family. (INAUDIBLE
QUESTION)
>> Yes, I can say that the
ages do include one child.
What I would say is that that
a child that is a case is a
pre-schooler who does not
attend an early childhood
education facility. ■7LINEBREAK
>> REPORTER: The other cases,
are they quite significant?
>>
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: The
person who presented in the
first case did have a fever, a
cough, quite noticeable
symptoms. The partner of that
person also had obvious
symptoms, also, in fact, that
preceded that of the case that
we diagnosed first. ■7LINEBREAK
>> REPORTER: How long have
they been experiencing their
symptoms? Is there risk they
have been out and about and
they could have been
spreaders?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Yes, it
was a four to five-day period
from symptom downset to when
the test was done -- onset to
when the test was done. That
is why we're following up all
possible close contacts. In
fact what we have found so far
is there is a relatively small
number of close contacts in

English: 
A
Welcome to Red Bee Media's
Live Remote Broadcasting
Service.
Kia ora koutou katou. Good
evening, everyone. After 102
days we have our first cases
of COVID-19 outside of a
managed isolation or
quarantine facility in New
Zealand. Shortly, I will ask
Dr Bloomfield to set out the
details of the cases involved.
While we have all worked
incredibly hard to prevent
this scenario, we have also
planned and prepared for it.
We have a resurgence plan that
we are now activating. That
plan is something we have now
learned to date about
COVID-19. It is also based
from what we've seen on
resurgence overseas. Those
plans, though, are of course
based on what we know about
the cases in front of us. So I
will pass to Dr Bloomfield,
who will set out those
details. Then I will share
with you the decisions that
have been made and response
through meetings with
officials, and also after
ministers convened this
evening, and set out what it
will mean for everyone. First,
Dr Bloomfield.
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Thank
you, Prime Minister. Kia ora.
So as the PM has said, we
actually have four confirmed
cases of COVID-19 in one
family acquired from an
unknown source. The first case
to present was a person in
their 50s, who lives in South
Auckland. That person was
swabbed yesterday when they
presented to their general
practitioner, with symptoms.
That test was processed twice
and returned positive, and a
second swab today also
returned a positive result.
Importantly, the person has no
history of overseas travel and
as per our usual protocol, we
worked very closely with
Auckland Regional Public
Health to interview the
person. We've sprung into
action and, in fact, all those
family members residing in the
same household - there were
another six - were all tested
and three of the six have
returned positive test
results. The other three were
negative.
Other close contacts from
workplaces have already been
contacted and put into
self-isolation, and are being
tested whether symptomatic or
asymptomatic. All close
contacts remain in
self-isolation for 14 days,
regardless of their test
result. While casual contacts
go into self-isolation and can
only leave self-isolation once
they return a negative test.
In addition, we are working
over the next few days to test
all people working at our
borders and in our managed
isolation facilities to help
us trace the possible origin
of this case where we don't
currently know the source.
Now, there are no barriers to
anyone who has cold or
flu-like symptoms getting
tested. Testing is free. As I
have said previously, and it's
even more relevant now, if you
are offered a test, please
take it. In Auckland, the four
community testing centres are
Northcote, Grafton, Henderson
and Wirri. Will be operating
with more staff and longer
hours over the coming days.
The testing centres in Wanaka
and DHBs will be planning
pop-up clinics over the coming
days and will publish location
and hours of these clinics. We
will work closely with DHBs
and primary care around the
country to ensure additional
testing capacity is available
to meet the expected increase
in demand from people with
symptoms, and I strongly
encourage any New Zealander
with symptoms, whether in the
Auckland region or outside it,
to please be tested. We have
been saying for some weeks, it
was inevitable that New
Zealand would get another case
of community transmission.
This is a tricky virus. We
have been working on the basis
that it could be at any time
and been preparing for that
time, that time is now. The
health system is well prepared
and the important thing now is
that we stop the spread of the
virus in our community. As we
did in the early days of the
virus emerging, we need to
stamp it out. There are things
that every single New
Zealander now needs to do. We
have done these before.
Continue or get back to
stringent hand hygiene -
washing for 20 seconds with
soap and water, or regular use
of an alcohol-based hand gel,
sneeze or cough into your
elbow. If you or a family
member are unwell, wherever
you leave in New Zealand, stay
at home and seek advice from
your GP or healthline about
getting a test. Practise
physical distancing of two
metres wherever possible. And,
most recently, our advice
around the use of masks, which
has been updated, please
consider wearing a mask in
spaces or places where it is
hard to fiscally distance. If
you have any concerns, please
seek advice from Healthline or
your GP. If you have not
already, please take this
opportunity to download the NC
COVID trace app, it will be an
essential tool of contacting
you if we need to as part of
our follow-up in this case.
Finally, our contact tracing
team will of course be in
contact with anyone who may be
identified as a contact
whether casual or close with
this space. Please respond if
you're contacted, return the
call, and assist in you are --
in our efforts to identify,
isolate any possible cases. We
cannot afford to let this
virus spread. We are working
to not let it happen here.
That what has happened in
other places that have seen
resurgences like this. We have
done this before and we can,
and will, do it again. Thank
you, Prime Minister.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Thank you.
As you will have heard from Dr
Bloomfield, we have four
cases, all in one household.
More than one workplace,
however, is involved. Contact
tracing is under way but,
currently, we know that of
those workplaces we are not
talking about one distinct
suburb in Auckland who may
have been affected by those
who tested positive. You will
have also heard the cases
leave questions still to be
answered. The most important
question is tracing this case
back to its original origin.
The reason that is important
is when we do that, we can
much more certain about
tracing and isolating all
close contacts. When we can't
do that, it means we have to
take a precautionary approach.
At this stage we have not yet
been able to determine the
source of these cases. There
is no immediate link that we
have found, as yet, to a
managed isolation facility
that we're aware of. And there
is no yet known connection to
any high-risk individual such
as those who work at our
border. Therefore, we need to
take a much more cautionary
approach until we can find the
source of this case, and make
sure that we reduce the risk
of wider spread. One of the
most important lessons we've
learned from overseas is the
need to go hard and go early
and stamp out flare-ups to
avoid the risk of wider
outbreak. As disruptive as it
is, a strong and rapid health
response remains the best
long-term economic response.
In line with our precautionary
approach, we will be asking
Aucklanders to take swift
action with us. As of 12 noon
tomorrow, Wednesday August 12,
we will be moving Auckland to
level 3 restrictions for a
period of three days until
midnight on Friday. These
three days will give us time
to assess the situation,
gather information, make sure
we have widespread contact
tracing so we can find out
more about how this case arose
and make decisions on how to
respond to it once we have
further information. Let me
set out what that means for
Aucklanders and the rest of
New Zealand. We are asking
people in Auckland to stay
home to stop the spread. This
means doing the simple things
that you will already be
familiar with to prevent
picking up the virus or
passing it on to others.
First, act as if you have
COVID and as if the people
around you have COVID. At
level 3, you're asked to stay
at home in your bubble, other
than for essential movement,
such as going to the
supermarket or local
recreation. If you are in
Auckland, you must work from
home unless you are an
essential service worker. All
schools and childcare
facilities in Auckland are
closed as of tomorrow morning,
except for the children of
essential service workers, and
those who are involved will
remember that at level 3, with
eallow -- we allow you to
access schools and early
childhood for level 3 for
essential service workers
only.
All public facilities, bars,
restaurants and businesses
must close by midday tomorrow.
Gatherings of more than 10
people in Auckland, again,
will be restricted and are
restricted again for funerals,
tangi Hanga and wedding
services only. And the rest of
the country's gatherings, of
course though, I'll outline in
further detail momentarily.
Travelling into Auckland is
prohibited unless you normally
reside there and are
travelling home. If you are
currently in Auckland but do
not normally reside there, you
also can leave to go home. But
we are asking you to be very
conscious of your health and
if you begin to display any
symptoms, please get tested.
We are defining the area
covered as Auckland and
covered by level 3
restrictions as the geographic
boundary of the Auckland Super
City which extends from
Welsford in the north to puck
-- Pukakohe in the south. All
key services, supermarkets,
pharmacies, medical centres,
they do remain open. So food
and supplies will continue to
be readily available. Food
delivery is also available as
you will recall at level 3.
Please do not rush to the
supermarket tonight. You'll
recall, as when we were in
level 3 on the last occasion,
supermarkets will be open,
there will be ample stock on
the shelves. There is no
reason to go out and make any
purchases this evening. If you
operated as an essential
service under level 4 and
level 3 last time, then those
are the settings we revert to
under level 3 again. If in
doubt, stay at home tomorrow
until you have clarity from
your employer.
That then brings me to the
rest of New Zealand. We will
be moving the rest of the
country outside of Auckland to
level 2. This will come into
place from midday tomorrow and
run through till midnight on
Friday. So the same period of
time that we applying
restrictions for Auckland.
That means social distancing
applies and mass gatherings in
that time will need to be
limited to 100 people. And, of
course, all of the other
guidance you'll be used to
from level 2 applies again as
well. I know that this
information will be very
difficult to receive. We had
all hoped not to find
ourselves in this position
again. But we had also
prepared for it. And as a
team, we have also been here
before. We know if we have a
plan and stick to it, we can
work our way through very
difficult and unknown
situations. Before I finish, I
want to talk briefly about
some of the additional plans
that we have in place. As the
Director-General has set out,
Auckland Regional Health will
be standing up a mass testing
programme across the region,
where we will seek to test
tens of thousands of people
over the coming days in order
to understand any potential
unidentified cases in the
community. It's our intention
to test everyone who works in
the border and everyone who
works in managed isolation
facilities, with a focus on
Auckland. We will also be
undertaking wide testing of
those who are symptomatic in
Auckland. Please, though, I
ask you don't visit your GP or
a community testing station if
you are perfectly well. We are
seeking to test those who are
symptomatic and those who are
working in those high-risk
areas. More details of the
locations of these CBACs and
guidance on who should get a
test we'll be providing again
in the morning.
A final word on mask use. We
now know that these can be
effective in the reducing the
spread of COVID. If you're in
Auckland, we ask that you use
a mask when you're accessing
essential services. For the
rest of the country, we advise
their use if you're in a place
where social distancing is
difficult - so, for instance,
public transport. Let me
finish by saying this, while
this initial 3-day lockdown
will mainly affect the
Auckland region, I am asking
the team of five million to
stand ready again as well.
Together, we've beaten the
virus before and with fast
action and by acting together,
we can do so again. We have
come too far to go backwards.
I'm asking New Zealanders to
once again be strong and be
kind. If you know someone in
Auckland, give them a call,
reach out, check that they are
OK. If you are in Auckland,
please make sure that your
neighbours are OK, ensure
they're looked after and that
they have the supplies and the
support they need. We know
what to do. We know what to do
because we've successfully
done it before. Please, stay
home if you're in Auckland: Be
vigilant. We will get through
this. We're happy to take es.
REPORTER: If you don't trace
the source of these four
people over the next four
days, is it likely that those
level 3 restrictions will be
extended until you find the
source?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Of course,
it is about gathering as much
information as possible in the
next three days and we won't
just do that through contact
tracing. We will also do that
through wide testing, not only
of those, obviously, working
in those high risk areas and
that's why we intend to test
everyone at the border, but
also in our managed isolation
facilities, and those
symptomatic. If we are unable
to identify the source, what
we should identify is whether
or not we have wider
geographic spread and whether
or not we have a number of
cases beyond the family that
has been identified here. Dr
Bloomfield.
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: I think
you've summarised it well,
Prime Minister. There are two
things we want to do and we'll
be working apace to do over
the next three days. The first
is to identify the extent of
this outbreak and control it.
The second is to identify the
source. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: (SPEAKS
INDISTINCTLY).
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I'll leave
that to Dr Bloomfield, who has
the information. Of course,
those workplaces that are
affected are being contacted.
But I think the important
point I wanted to make is that
it would not have been
possible to successfully
isolate one small part of
Auckland. From the interviews
that have been undertaken, a
precautionary approach does
point to us needing,
unfortunately, to ask all of
Auckland to take a
precautionary approach with
us. INEBREAK >> REPORTER: In
other words, has workplaces
had any connection to travel
in any way?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Not that I
we have identified but those
interviews have been undertake
within the family and the
original case as we speak.
From there, moving into the
wider workplace and
interviewing others. Dr
Bloomfield?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Two
things to say there, and I
don't have the detail of the
workplaces with me but the two
workplaces in question,
immediate action has been
taken to identify close
contacts, isolate those people
and, in fact, shut down one of
the workplaces so that further
wide testing can happen.
INEBREAK >> REPORTER: Are
they customer-facing? Are they
workplaces where you would see
a lot of people coming in and
out?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Just
based on the conversations
I've had, no they're not.
Neither are. REPORTER: What
about people who've recently
been to Auckland such as
yourself?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes. That's
where we're asking people to
be very mindful of their own
health and wellbeing. We're
asking that if they feel
unwell, immediately isolate,
seek advice and seek a test if
that's the advice you receive.
But at this stage, that's the
extent of the advice for those
who have recently been in
Auckland. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: So obviously you're
on the campaign trial, heading
up lots of different parts of
the country. Will you change
your plan...
>>
JACINDA ARDERN: Yes, I will. I
anticipate over the next three
days I'll likely be based in
Wellington. (INAUDIBLE
QUESTION)
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I'm not
going to set out ot this
stage. The view was move
quickly with a precautiously
approach. With the hope, of
course, that we can ascertain
that information that will be
able to limit the effect on
other New Zealanders as much
as possible. The alternative
is to wait. That runs the
risk, if we do have a wider
number of individuals
affected, of the spread
continuing to escalate.
INEBREAK >> REPORTER: Why
has it taken so long for you
to tell the public?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: So I was
advised at 4:00 this afternoon
whilst I was in the van
travelling directly here to
Wellington. In that time,
additional interviewing took
place of those individuals to
see if we could ascertain
their connection to any
high-risk areas such as
borders because that may have
given us the option of ice --
contacting an isolating. That
hasn't happened. Also, we
spoke to ministers, to ensure
the orders to be in place were
drafted and unless the
information was correct to
provide the public. We have
moved very, very quickly in
that space of time. Yes?
Derrick? REPORTER: If all
Aucklanders are supposed to
stay at home, the US -- does
that mean no movement in and
out of the super city?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: That's
correct. We're asking only
those to return home to enter
Auckland and only those
leaving to go home to exit
Auckland. Those who reside
there, we are asking to stay
there. The whole point of this
precautionary approach is to
try and isolate any potential
spread outside of that region
and into other areas.
INEBREAK >> REPORTER: How
likely is that these four
cases are self-contained or
can the public expect we might
see more cases in the coming
days?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Given we
haven't yet identified the
original source case - and
I'll Dr Bloomfield talk more -
I'd say it is likely we will
see other cases as we start
tracing round.
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Yes,
we're expecting to see other
cases. As was the situation
earlier in the year, we want
to find all those other cases
as soon as possible, and
isolate - identify and isolate
any contacts. Hence, the work
that is going on - that has
been going on since 3:00 today
to ramp up the capacity and
capability for testing, both
this evening, including at
urgent care centres across
Auckland, but also in the
morning. And there'll be
pop-up clinics as well as
longer hours and more
extensive testing at those
existing clinics.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Henry?
INEBREAK >> REPORTER: Given
the low-level of surveillance
testing and given the fact
that this case (SPEAKS
INDISTINCTLY), can we be sure
that COVID ever really was
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) or is
there the possibility that has
been somewhere in Auckland
since March?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: I think
if you reflect back to that
period of time when we were
coming down through level 3
and 2, we did extensive
testing right across the
country. And we - including a
broad ethnicity spread as
well. So, yes, I think we can
be confident. The fact that
we've gone over 100 days,
again, I think lends - if you
look at the number of tests
that have been done and the
geographical and ethnicity
spread of those tests - I
think we can be very
confident. So this is - but
this is why we have continued
that community surveillance
testing of symptomatic people
and it shows it was the right
thing to do. We also have a
clear plan in place about what
to do.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Keeping in
mind that even if you've got
undetected cases in your
community, very unfortunately,
at some point one will elevate
and escalate into your - into
your hospital system. We have
not seen that. But that's the
other indicator, if you've got
undetected transmission in
your community, and we have
not seen that. Claire?
INEBREAK >> REPORTER:
Realistically, if you are
expecting more cases to come
up, the decision at the end of
the three days will be whether
or not there was another two
weeks or so at level 3 for
Auckland or a move to level 4
if there are more cases?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Again, I
don't wish to pre-determine
that at this point. If, for
instance, there's a scenario
where we're able to rapidly
identify the source case, we
have confidence of our level
of isolation and contact
tracing of all close contacts
around that case, that is a
potential scenario. But,
again, that is why we're
giving ourselves that 72 hours
to do that large-scale, rapid
testing, isolation and contact
tracing. And we will be
updating everyone on Friday
about what our expectations
are of the next step. In the
meantime, daily updates will
give people a sense of the
progress that's been made and
the information we're able to
gather. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: Dr Bloomfield, are
you comfortable with that 72
hours or did you advise the
government that it should in
fact be longer than that?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: In fact,
there was very quick and
unanimous agreement amongst
officials and also in our
discussions with our
colleagues in Auckland that
the three days would give us a
good amount of time to do
quite extensive testing and
the contact tracing, which is
already well under way, to
identify any possible close
contacts and casual contacts,
have them tested. And so the
three days is a good amount of
time for us to be able to get
good information about the
extent of the outbreak and
whether it is contained and
also the link back to where
that case might have come
from.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Just
keeping in mind, these are
very significant decisions.
Moving an entire city and New
Zealand's largest city into
level 3 restrictions is not a
decision we take lightly. We
need to make sure we have as
much information as possible.
And so this - and this move
means that we can be cautious
but also make sure that we
have more information before
we make any decisions that
have a longer-term impact. We
also are mindful if we have
decisions that have a
longer-term impact at that
point we need to be talking
about other financial supports
and so on that would be
necessary. This gives us a
window have a good assessment
over what it is that has
emerged today. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: On the logistics of
level 3 again, last time there
were butchers and green
groceries, that sort of came
into controversy. Are we
looking at keeping them closed
or this time will they allow
to open?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We've kept
the same restrictions as you
will recall at level 3 are in
place again at level 3. Do
keep in mind that that allows
take-aways and services that
weren't able to be in place at
level 4.
>> INEBREAK >> REPORTER: Can
you tell us more about the
cases, what are the age of the
confirmed cases?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: At this
point, I would rather do that
tomorrow because I would like
to have had a discussion with
the family. (INAUDIBLE
QUESTION)
>> Yes, I can say that the
ages do include one child.
What I would say is that that
a child that is a case is a
pre-schooler who does not
attend an early childhood
education facility. INEBREAK
>> REPORTER: The other cases,
are they quite significant?
>>
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: The
person who presented in the
first case did have a fever, a
cough, quite noticeable
symptoms. The partner of that
person also had obvious
symptoms, also, in fact, that
preceded that of the case that
we diagnosed first. INEBREAK
>> REPORTER: How long have
they been experiencing their
symptoms? Is there risk they
have been out and about and
they could have been
spreaders?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Yes, it
was a four to five-day period
from symptom downset to when
the test was done -- onset to
when the test was done. That
is why we're following up all
possible close contacts. In
fact what we have found so far
is there is a relatively small
number of close contacts in

Maori: 
the workplace and outside.
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: Where
are the workplaces?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: At this
point, the only information
I'd like to say is that they
are from South Auckland and
that the workplaces are beyond
South Auckland, so they're in
other parts of Auckland.
(INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
.
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Because
that's the request of the
family at this point.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We will
look to provide more
information in the morning. It
is a matter of making sure
when we do so we're not in a
situation of identifying
directly some individuals
because there are a small
number of people involved in
those workplaces which would
make them identifiable. By
taking this cautionary
approach we're ensuring the
health and safety of everyone
in Auckland by taking this
cautionary approach. Those
directly involved in the
workplaces of these
individuals have already and
are already being contacted
directly to make sure they
have that extra requirement to
be in self-isolation and to be
tested but, again, we will
look to provide nor
information in the morning. I

English: 
the workplace and outside.
INEBREAK >> REPORTER: Where
are the workplaces?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: At this
point, the only information
I'd like to say is that they
are from South Auckland and
that the workplaces are beyond
South Auckland, so they're in
other parts of Auckland.
(INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
.
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Because
that's the request of the
family at this point.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We will
look to provide more
information in the morning. It
is a matter of making sure
when we do so we're not in a
situation of identifying
directly some individuals
because there are a small
number of people involved in
those workplaces which would
make them identifiable. By
taking this cautionary
approach we're ensuring the
health and safety of everyone
in Auckland by taking this
cautionary approach. Those
directly involved in the
workplaces of these
individuals have already and
are already being contacted
directly to make sure they
have that extra requirement to
be in self-isolation and to be
tested but, again, we will
look to provide nor
information in the morning. I

English: 
know this this will be an area
of interest. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: If you've been in
Auckland in the last few days
and you've flown back to your
home elsewhere in New Zealand,
should you be working from
home?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes, this
is where we are asking people
to take a cautionary approach.
We want people to monitor
their symptoms, and we want
everyone outside of Auckland
to socially distance. People
will engage their common-sense
in this as well. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: You - obviously rest
homes are the most
vulnerable...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes, I'll
ask Dr Bloomfield to speak to
rest homes. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: That's where the
deaths popped up in New
Zealand, how will you protect
rest homes?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Before we
went into alert level 3, we
had advised aged care

Maori: 
know this this will be an area
of interest. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: If you've been in
Auckland in the last few days
and you've flown back to your
home elsewhere in New Zealand,
should you be working from
home?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes, this
is where we are asking people
to take a cautionary approach.
We want people to monitor
their symptoms, and we want
everyone outside of Auckland
to socially distance. People
will engage their common-sense
in this as well. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: You - obviously rest
homes are the most
vulnerable...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes, I'll
ask Dr Bloomfield to speak to
rest homes. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: That's where the
deaths popped up in New
Zealand, how will you protect
rest homes?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Before we
went into alert level 3, we
had advised aged care

Maori: 
facilities and many had
already. Our advice country
wide is to also stop visits
for the time being. Certainly
over these next few days.
Because we want to take a very
cautionary approach with that
setting. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: (SPEAKS
INDISTINCTLY)?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Not at
this point. There is a
protocol that all those who
work in residential aged care
do have symptoms checked
before they start work.
Shutting down visitors will
ensure facilities are ensuring
that. ■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER:
If it is vulnerable, why would
not test them?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: There is
no indication we should be
testing them. The important
first action is close all
visiting to those rest homes
then take it from there. These
are the first few days. The
actions taken immediately are
in Auckland as outlined by the
Prime Minister. Anyone

English: 
facilities and many had
already. Our advice country
wide is to also stop visits
for the time being. Certainly
over these next few days.
Because we want to take a very
cautionary approach with that
setting. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: (SPEAKS
INDISTINCTLY)?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Not at
this point. There is a
protocol that all those who
work in residential aged care
do have symptoms checked
before they start work.
Shutting down visitors will
ensure facilities are ensuring
that. INEBREAK >> REPORTER:
If it is vulnerable, why would
not test them?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: There is
no indication we should be
testing them. The important
first action is close all
visiting to those rest homes
then take it from there. These
are the first few days. The
actions taken immediately are
in Auckland as outlined by the
Prime Minister. Anyone

English: 
symptomatic, including those
who work in or who stay in
aged residential care
facilities should be tested.
INEBREAK >> REPORTER: One of
the things that happened
during level 3 last time were
the elderly were asked to stay
home. Under level 2, the rest
of New Zealand, are you
asking...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: At the
moment we're asking everyone
outside of Auckland to apply
the level 2 restrictions. That
is how it stands. Obviously
we're asking everyone in
Auckland to stay at home. You
will remember as we came down
at level 2, we weren't asking
at that point for every single
person to stay home. But level
2, good social distancing,
good hand washing regimes, not
leaving your home if you're
unwell. And we're asking if
you're in public places that
it's a little harder to
socially distance, for people
to where a mask. In Auckland,
level 3. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: The gentleman who
tested positive for COVID-19
in South Korea recently, he
also resided in South

Maori: 
symptomatic, including those
who work in or who stay in
aged residential care
facilities should be tested.
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: One of
the things that happened
during level 3 last time were
the elderly were asked to stay
home. Under level 2, the rest
of New Zealand, are you
asking...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: At the
moment we're asking everyone
outside of Auckland to apply
the level 2 restrictions. That
is how it stands. Obviously
we're asking everyone in
Auckland to stay at home. You
will remember as we came down
at level 2, we weren't asking
at that point for every single
person to stay home. But level
2, good social distancing,
good hand washing regimes, not
leaving your home if you're
unwell. And we're asking if
you're in public places that
it's a little harder to
socially distance, for people
to where a mask. In Auckland,
level 3. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: The gentleman who
tested positive for COVID-19
in South Korea recently, he
also resided in South

Maori: 
Auckland, by memory. Are you
concerned that these two
situations could be linked?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: We're not
and we've been through a very
process with that person who
tested positive on arrival in
South Korea, and very much
concluded that everything
about that situation suggests
that it was a positive test of
someone who'd had an earlier
infection, some months before.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Keeping in
mind that there was also,
roughly, 100 close contacts
around that person all tested,
all tested negative. And of
course evidence suggesting
from the swab that it was an
old infection. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: As the testing goes
on, within how many days do
you expect to see? Could we,
for example, see tomorrow some
of those close contacts coming
back testing positive or
negative?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes, the
turnaround can be very quick.
Obviously we have've already
turned around from the time
that there was a positive test
in the family. We've already
turned around testing in the
wider family already to

English: 
Auckland, by memory. Are you
concerned that these two
situations could be linked?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: We're not
and we've been through a very
process with that person who
tested positive on arrival in
South Korea, and very much
concluded that everything
about that situation suggests
that it was a positive test of
someone who'd had an earlier
infection, some months before.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Keeping in
mind that there was also,
roughly, 100 close contacts
around that person all tested,
all tested negative. And of
course evidence suggesting
from the swab that it was an
old infection. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: As the testing goes
on, within how many days do
you expect to see? Could we,
for example, see tomorrow some
of those close contacts coming
back testing positive or
negative?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes, the
turnaround can be very quick.
Obviously we have've already
turned around from the time
that there was a positive test
in the family. We've already
turned around testing in the
wider family already to

Maori: 
identify other positives. We
can turn that around very
quickly. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: Do you have concerns
for wider contact tracing
given there has been a slow
uptake on using the app?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I'll let Dr
Bloomfield speak to that but
we have good information it is
being agoed.
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Two
comments. First of all, the
really significant information
development over the last few
months has been our national
contact tracing solution,
which all our public health
units are on. Just to give you
an example of the value of
that, tonight, as the Public
Health Unit in Auckland was
interviewing the person, and
the information was being
entered into the system there,
we could view it nationally.
In fact, then it's visible to
us nationally and, indeed, to
other public health units, if
they need it. So that's the
most significant and really
valuable asset we have for our
contact tracing, as well as
the fact we have upped the
capacity in our public health
units across the country to be
able to trace up to 350 cases

English: 
identify other positives. We
can turn that around very
quickly. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: Do you have concerns
for wider contact tracing
given there has been a slow
uptake on using the app?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I'll let Dr
Bloomfield speak to that but
we have good information it is
being agoed.
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Two
comments. First of all, the
really significant information
development over the last few
months has been our national
contact tracing solution,
which all our public health
units are on. Just to give you
an example of the value of
that, tonight, as the Public
Health Unit in Auckland was
interviewing the person, and
the information was being
entered into the system there,
we could view it nationally.
In fact, then it's visible to
us nationally and, indeed, to
other public health units, if
they need it. So that's the
most significant and really
valuable asset we have for our
contact tracing, as well as
the fact we have upped the
capacity in our public health
units across the country to be
able to trace up to 350 cases

Maori: 
per day. We have additional
capacity nationally. The app
itself, even if - so I'm
encouraging people to download
it. Even if you don't use it,
and I encourage people to use
it, just by registering and
giving us your up-to-date
contact information, that's
significantly useful. So,
please go ahead and do that if
you haven't already.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Dr
Bloomfield, this is a very
good reminder of why everyone
needs to use the app. Please
COVID Tracer, the Ministry of
Health have made that app
available, download it, use
it. We'll be asking businesses
again to put in place those QR
codes. This is a vital and
useful tool for us. If you
don't have a phone that uses
that technology, please keep a
diary of all the places you've
been. ■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER:
Has the app been used in this
particular case? Have you
issued an exposure
notification and are you
planning to coso?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Not yet
and not planning to at the
moment. It depend on the
extent on whether we have to

English: 
per day. We have additional
capacity nationally. The app
itself, even if - so I'm
encouraging people to download
it. Even if you don't use it,
and I encourage people to use
it, just by registering and
giving us your up-to-date
contact information, that's
significantly useful. So,
please go ahead and do that if
you haven't already.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Dr
Bloomfield, this is a very
good reminder of why everyone
needs to use the app. Please
COVID Tracer, the Ministry of
Health have made that app
available, download it, use
it. We'll be asking businesses
again to put in place those QR
codes. This is a vital and
useful tool for us. If you
don't have a phone that uses
that technology, please keep a
diary of all the places you've
been. INEBREAK >> REPORTER:
Has the app been used in this
particular case? Have you
issued an exposure
notification and are you
planning to coso?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Not yet
and not planning to at the
moment. It depend on the
extent on whether we have to

Maori: 
send a message out more
widely. But because we're
taking quite significant
action here in Auckland and,
as the Prime Minister has
outlined, then we don't need
to send out that notification.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: But also of
course continuing the contact
tracing around that family.
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: ..who
have been in contact with and
where they were?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes,
absolutely, that's always the
exercise we ask. That would be
a useful exercise for anyone
particularly in Auckland. When
you're at home over the next
three days, just sitting down,
thinking about the places
you've been over the last few
weeks, reminding yourself and
keeping a log. Get into the
practice of doing that at all
times. The app is there to
make it easier for you but it
is not the only way you can
record your movements.
>> ■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: A
lot of Aucklanders and New
Zealander will be having a
sinking feeling in their
stomach. What's your message
to them?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I
absolutely completely

English: 
send a message out more
widely. But because we're
taking quite significant
action here in Auckland and,
as the Prime Minister has
outlined, then we don't need
to send out that notification.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: But also of
course continuing the contact
tracing around that family.
INEBREAK >> REPORTER: ..who
have been in contact with and
where they were?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes,
absolutely, that's always the
exercise we ask. That would be
a useful exercise for anyone
particularly in Auckland. When
you're at home over the next
three days, just sitting down,
thinking about the places
you've been over the last few
weeks, reminding yourself and
keeping a log. Get into the
practice of doing that at all
times. The app is there to
make it easier for you but it
is not the only way you can
record your movements.
>> INEBREAK >> REPORTER: A
lot of Aucklanders and New
Zealander will be having a
sinking feeling in their
stomach. What's your message
to them?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I

English: 
absolutely completely
understand and that is a
completely natural feeling.
We've had 102 days and it was
very easy to feel perhaps New
Zealand was out of the goods.
But out of all the countries
in the world, we have gone the
longest. No country has gone
as far as we did without
having resurgence. And so,
because we were the only ones,
that meant we always knew we
had to plan, and we have
planned. Now that moment has
arrived where we need to
utilise that plan. So my
request is not to be
dispirited or disheartened.
When we've rolled out ou plans
before, it has worked. So I'm
asking that everyone joins us
on that journey again. Reminds
themselves of what we had to
do last time. And just
continues with us as we keep
sharing all the information we
have as we try and get back
control, again of these cases
that we've identified. Again,
this is something we have
prepared for. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: Should people out of
Auckland avoid regional

Maori: 
understand and that is a
completely natural feeling.
We've had 102 days and it was
very easy to feel perhaps New
Zealand was out of the goods.
But out of all the countries
in the world, we have gone the
longest. No country has gone
as far as we did without
having resurgence. And so,
because we were the only ones,
that meant we always knew we
had to plan, and we have
planned. Now that moment has
arrived where we need to
utilise that plan. So my
request is not to be
dispirited or disheartened.
When we've rolled out ou plans
before, it has worked. So I'm
asking that everyone joins us
on that journey again. Reminds
themselves of what we had to
do last time. And just
continues with us as we keep
sharing all the information we
have as we try and get back
control, again of these cases
that we've identified. Again,
this is something we have
prepared for. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: Should people out of
Auckland avoid regional

Maori: 
travel. If they have flights
booked already, say, to arrive
in Christchurch, should they
cancel them?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Again we're
keeping the rest of the
country at level 2. At level 2
we allowed regional travel but
we asked people not to go to
Auckland unless they were
returning home. If you're an
Aucklander and you have a home
elsewhere, please stay in
Auckland. That is our request
of you. We're asking the
people to apply the same
common-sense that we used
before. When it comes to
people who've been in
Auckland, I'm going to get a
bit more advice around that.
At this stage, we are saying,
"People, go home. Keep abeye
-- an eye on your wellness."
But I will get more advice for
those coming out of Auckland
to be consistent. But you can
go home if you're in Auckland
and that's not where you live.
>> ■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: The
-- ■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: The

English: 
travel. If they have flights
booked already, say, to arrive
in Christchurch, should they
cancel them?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Again we're
keeping the rest of the
country at level 2. At level 2
we allowed regional travel but
we asked people not to go to
Auckland unless they were
returning home. If you're an
Aucklander and you have a home
elsewhere, please stay in
Auckland. That is our request
of you. We're asking the
people to apply the same
common-sense that we used
before. When it comes to
people who've been in
Auckland, I'm going to get a
bit more advice around that.
At this stage, we are saying,
"People, go home. Keep abeye
-- an eye on your wellness."
But I will get more advice for
those coming out of Auckland
to be consistent. But you can
go home if you're in Auckland
and that's not where you live.
>> INEBREAK >> REPORTER: The
-- INEBREAK >> REPORTER: The

English: 
people who've been in Auckland
but do not live there?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I will get
further information on that.
Do go home. Keep in mind we
have put that area into a
level 3 restricted area. Make
sure you're keeping an eye on
your health and wellbeing.
I'll give another update on
our expectations for that
group tomorrow. What I will
also do, as we have discussed
rest homes, I will be asking
Minister Jenny Salesa to
engage in those facilities
again as we have in the past,
make sure we are taking a
precautionary approach there.
Those are some of our
highest-risk areas. Dr
Bloomfield has already set out
our expectations there but I
want to make sure it's as
rigorous as possible because
it is an area where we know
there is huge vulnerability.
>> INEBREAK >> REPORTER: Can
I clarify if the family is
isolating at home?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes, we are
discussing moving them to a
quarantine family. INEBREAK
>> REPORTER: Separated?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes, they
are as a family. They've only

Maori: 
people who've been in Auckland
but do not live there?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I will get
further information on that.
Do go home. Keep in mind we
have put that area into a
level 3 restricted area. Make
sure you're keeping an eye on
your health and wellbeing.
I'll give another update on
our expectations for that
group tomorrow. What I will
also do, as we have discussed
rest homes, I will be asking
Minister Jenny Salesa to
engage in those facilities
again as we have in the past,
make sure we are taking a
precautionary approach there.
Those are some of our
highest-risk areas. Dr
Bloomfield has already set out
our expectations there but I
want to make sure it's as
rigorous as possible because
it is an area where we know
there is huge vulnerability.
>> ■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: Can
I clarify if the family is
isolating at home?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes, we are
discussing moving them to a
quarantine family. ■7LINEBREAK
>> REPORTER: Separated?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes, they
are as a family. They've only

English: 
just received their results
and we're discussing with them
movements in hotel quarantine.
At the moment public health
staff are with them.
INEBREAK >> REPORTER: People
are already streaming into
supermarkets in Auckland after
this announcement. Are you
worried about that?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Again, I
can only reiterate what I said
in the beginning. I absolutely
understand it is a completely
natural reaction. It happens
around public holidays as well
when people know that there
are closures. But there are no
closures here. We've all
experienced before that the
supermarkets will not shut.
They will remain open. People
will continue to be able to
access them. So there is no
need for anyone to go out now
and stock up. They'll be open
tomorrow. They'll be open the
next day, right the way
through. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: We're getting
reports this is already
happening...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Look, I
know, that's just been shared
with me. I can only reiterate
again as I have, there is no
need. They are an essential

Maori: 
just received their results
and we're discussing with them
movements in hotel quarantine.
At the moment public health
staff are with them.
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: People
are already streaming into
supermarkets in Auckland after
this announcement. Are you
worried about that?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Again, I
can only reiterate what I said
in the beginning. I absolutely
understand it is a completely
natural reaction. It happens
around public holidays as well
when people know that there
are closures. But there are no
closures here. We've all
experienced before that the
supermarkets will not shut.
They will remain open. People
will continue to be able to
access them. So there is no
need for anyone to go out now
and stock up. They'll be open
tomorrow. They'll be open the
next day, right the way
through. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: We're getting
reports this is already
happening...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Look, I
know, that's just been shared
with me. I can only reiterate
again as I have, there is no
need. They are an essential

English: 
service, as are pharmacies.
You'll even be able to get a
takeaway coffee with distance.
All of those things remain in
place. INEBREAK >> REPORTER:
What about the match at'den -
at Eden Park, what's the plan
for that?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I expect
the Minister will engage with
that. We are keeping these
restrictions in place until
midnight Friday. We will give
updates as go. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: I know it is hard to
predict the future, but if you
manage to determine there is
no community transmission,
find the source of this, will
you move straight down - back
down into level 1 or bring
down the levels as you did?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We've
always tended to take a
cautionary approach, we will
make that assessment at the
time. But we will be on guard
at this point. You won't

Maori: 
service, as are pharmacies.
You'll even be able to get a
takeaway coffee with distance.
All of those things remain in
place. ■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER:
What about the match at'den -
at Eden Park, what's the plan
for that?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I expect
the Minister will engage with
that. We are keeping these
restrictions in place until
midnight Friday. We will give
updates as go. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: I know it is hard to
predict the future, but if you
manage to determine there is
no community transmission,
find the source of this, will
you move straight down - back
down into level 1 or bring
down the levels as you did?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We've
always tended to take a
cautionary approach, we will
make that assessment at the
time. But we will be on guard
at this point. You won't

Maori: 
necessarily have to wait till
Friday to get a sense of our
progress or not. I expect
we'll be looking at another
press conference at this point
mid-morning tomorrow. We will
be making sure that
Commissioner Andrew Costa is
available to give further
information around some of the
ways that the roadblocks and
checks will be working as
well. (INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I haven't
ruled that out but again we
need to take a cautious
approach was we have with this
decision as well. ■7LINEBREAK
>> REPORTER: During Victoria's
second wave, a lot of people
there became really frustrated
having to go through this
process again where we saw
hundreds of people getting
fines. Are you certained New
Zealanders, particularly
Aucklanders, will become
complacent and just break the
rules?

English: 
necessarily have to wait till
Friday to get a sense of our
progress or not. I expect
we'll be looking at another
press conference at this point
mid-morning tomorrow. We will
be making sure that
Commissioner Andrew Costa is
available to give further
information around some of the
ways that the roadblocks and
checks will be working as
well. (INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I haven't
ruled that out but again we
need to take a cautious
approach was we have with this
decision as well. INEBREAK
>> REPORTER: During Victoria's
second wave, a lot of people
there became really frustrated
having to go through this
process again where we saw
hundreds of people getting
fines. Are you certained New
Zealanders, particularly
Aucklanders, will become
complacent and just break the
rules?

English: 
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I've always
of course known we are our own
people, our own country, we've
taken our own approach to
COVID. So I'm not going to
make an assumption on what
will happen here in New
Zealand based on what has
happened in Australia, because
we've always done things our
own way. We know that
following the guidelines that
were set and the alert levels
put in place originally, that
it worked. No country in the
world was free of community
transmission as long as New
Zealand has been. We also know
that other countries have had
resurgence and have got them
back under control. So we're
asking for every New
Zealanders' help in doing
that. If we get this right we
can limit the effect on the
rest of New Zealand but we'll
only be able to do that if we
do follow these rules as we
did in the first place.
INEBREAK >> REPORTER: How
strictly will these rules be
enforced?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: In the same
way we have before. Nothing
has changed in that regard.
The orders will be in place.
We are asking people to comply

Maori: 
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I've always
of course known we are our own
people, our own country, we've
taken our own approach to
COVID. So I'm not going to
make an assumption on what
will happen here in New
Zealand based on what has
happened in Australia, because
we've always done things our
own way. We know that
following the guidelines that
were set and the alert levels
put in place originally, that
it worked. No country in the
world was free of community
transmission as long as New
Zealand has been. We also know
that other countries have had
resurgence and have got them
back under control. So we're
asking for every New
Zealanders' help in doing
that. If we get this right we
can limit the effect on the
rest of New Zealand but we'll
only be able to do that if we
do follow these rules as we
did in the first place.
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: How
strictly will these rules be
enforced?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: In the same
way we have before. Nothing
has changed in that regard.
The orders will be in place.
We are asking people to comply

English: 
with them and we are doing
that for a 72-hour period.
INEBREAK >> REPORTER:
..two-week incubation period
and previously cases didn't
come through after 10 days. Is
it likely we'll have to be at
level 3 and 4 for at least two
weeks?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Again,
we'll make sure that everyone
is well aware of the decisions
that need to be made once we
have more information. But it
is a very big decision to shut
down an entire city for a
two-week period without having
full information around the
source of this case. So I feel
very strongly that we need to
give ourselves the ability to
answer those questions before
we ask that of all of
Auckland. I believe we should
have much more information
over the next 72 hours. We're
going to undertake widespread,
mass testing, continue the
interviews across the range of

Maori: 
with them and we are doing
that for a 72-hour period.
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER:
..two-week incubation period
and previously cases didn't
come through after 10 days. Is
it likely we'll have to be at
level 3 and 4 for at least two
weeks?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Again,
we'll make sure that everyone
is well aware of the decisions
that need to be made once we
have more information. But it
is a very big decision to shut
down an entire city for a
two-week period without having
full information around the
source of this case. So I feel
very strongly that we need to
give ourselves the ability to
answer those questions before
we ask that of all of
Auckland. I believe we should
have much more information
over the next 72 hours. We're
going to undertake widespread,
mass testing, continue the
interviews across the range of

Maori: 
those individuals affected,
and see if we can identify
those sources which may then
lim our need to continue with
these restrictions for long
periods of time. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: Given the incubation
period, surely a cautionary
approach would require level
3...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Of course,
rather than working through
hypotheticals I'd much rather
work through the evidence we
have. We'll have much better
evidence after 24 to 48 hours.
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: A lot
of people, including the
Leader of the National Party,
has said there is a conspiracy
going on, and with this alert
level coming in, that the
Government knew than what it
was sharing. What can you say
to that?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I have
already shared with you the
timeline of when I was first
informed. I'll let Dr
Bloomfield speak to his own
knowledge. I was informed of

English: 
those individuals affected,
and see if we can identify
those sources which may then
lim our need to continue with
these restrictions for long
periods of time. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: Given the incubation
period, surely a cautionary
approach would require level
3...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Of course,
rather than working through
hypotheticals I'd much rather
work through the evidence we
have. We'll have much better
evidence after 24 to 48 hours.
INEBREAK >> REPORTER: A lot
of people, including the
Leader of the National Party,
has said there is a conspiracy
going on, and with this alert
level coming in, that the
Government knew than what it
was sharing. What can you say
to that?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I have
already shared with you the
timeline of when I was first
informed. I'll let Dr
Bloomfield speak to his own
knowledge. I was informed of

Maori: 
this case after exiting a
gathering, a public gathering,
in Wonganui. Dr Bloomfield?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: I was
informed just before 3:00 and
we on a Zoom call with a
number of people within about
five minutes and standing up
the response very quickly and
letting people know exactly
what was happening. That's the
first indication we had. The
test result came through of a
test that was done of a
symptomatic person yesterday
in general practice. It
reiterates why we were doing
that testing and we had a plan
spring into action...
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: Prime
Minister, have you talked to
Judith Collins today?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes.
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: Are
you getting any advice on
postponing the election?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: So I spoke

English: 
this case after exiting a
gathering, a public gathering,
in Wonganui. Dr Bloomfield?
>>ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: I was
informed just before 3:00 and
we on a Zoom call with a
number of people within about
five minutes and standing up
the response very quickly and
letting people know exactly
what was happening. That's the
first indication we had. The
test result came through of a
test that was done of a
symptomatic person yesterday
in general practice. It
reiterates why we were doing
that testing and we had a plan
spring into action...
INEBREAK >> REPORTER: Prime
Minister, have you talked to
Judith Collins today?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes.
INEBREAK >> REPORTER: Are
you getting any advice on
postponing the election?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: So I spoke

English: 
to the Leader of the
Opposition, I'd say,
approximately 8:30 this
evening, to vise her. That was
immediately -- advise her.
That was immediately after I
came off the call to advise
her and discussing Can
Minister our course of action.
I then spoke to the Mayor of
Auckland and to the Leader of
the Opposition. I advised her
of the information we had
about the case, the proposed
course of action and response.
And what we would be
undertaking over the next
period of time as well to
ascertain further information.
As for your second question
around the impact of the
election, our immediate focus
is on the impact of these
cases. I've not given any
consideration on the impact of
the election at this stage. If
need be, that'll be something
we'll report on something
further down the track.
INEBREAK >> REPORTER: Do you
expect all parties to put

Maori: 
to the Leader of the
Opposition, I'd say,
approximately 8:30 this
evening, to vise her. That was
immediately -- advise her.
That was immediately after I
came off the call to advise
her and discussing Can
Minister our course of action.
I then spoke to the Mayor of
Auckland and to the Leader of
the Opposition. I advised her
of the information we had
about the case, the proposed
course of action and response.
And what we would be
undertaking over the next
period of time as well to
ascertain further information.
As for your second question
around the impact of the
election, our immediate focus
is on the impact of these
cases. I've not given any
consideration on the impact of
the election at this stage. If
need be, that'll be something
we'll report on something
further down the track.
■7LINEBREAK >> REPORTER: Do you
expect all parties to put

English: 
campaigning on hold though?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Ultimately,
I'm expecting them to do the
same thing we're asking of
every New Zealander at this
time for the next period until
midnight on Friday. If they
are resident in Auckland, to
stay home, obviously to comply
with level 2 restrictions for
the rest of the country. I
understand the impact that
will have
>> I -- have. I too will be
changing plans. INEBREAK >>
REPORTER: Is it a reasonable
prospect to see the election
delayed?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I do not
want to speculate on that at
this point. Anything beyond
that, right now, for something
that's six weeks away would be
purely specultive. INEBREAK
>> REPORTER: Is it responsible
to dissolve Parliament
tomorrow?

Maori: 
campaigning on hold though?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Ultimately,
I'm expecting them to do the
same thing we're asking of
every New Zealander at this
time for the next period until
midnight on Friday. If they
are resident in Auckland, to
stay home, obviously to comply
with level 2 restrictions for
the rest of the country. I
understand the impact that
will have
>> I -- have. I too will be
changing plans. ■7LINEBREAK >>
REPORTER: Is it a reasonable
prospect to see the election
delayed?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I do not
want to speculate on that at
this point. Anything beyond
that, right now, for something
that's six weeks away would be
purely specultive. ■7LINEBREAK
>> REPORTER: Is it responsible
to dissolve Parliament
tomorrow?

English: 
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Keeping in
mind, of course, that does not
diminish or remove the ability
of Cabinet to continue to make
decisions, I intend to act in
the exact same way as I would
if we were in a Parliamentary
recess, for instance. I will
maintain contact with the
Leader of the Opposition. I've
indicated to her that I will
do that. I will continue to
update her tomorrow once we
have further information and
detail of the work we'll be
doing over the next few days.
In that sense, the dissolution
of Parliament will not change
the way I intend to behave
with the Leader of the
Opposition. Thank you,
everyone. See you in the
morning.
Thank you for using Red Bee
Media's Live Remote
Broadcasting Service.

Maori: 
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Keeping in
mind, of course, that does not
diminish or remove the ability
of Cabinet to continue to make
decisions, I intend to act in
the exact same way as I would
if we were in a Parliamentary
recess, for instance. I will
maintain contact with the
Leader of the Opposition. I've
indicated to her that I will
do that. I will continue to
update her tomorrow once we
have further information and
detail of the work we'll be
doing over the next few days.
In that sense, the dissolution
of Parliament will not change
the way I intend to behave
with the Leader of the
Opposition. Thank you,
everyone. See you in the
morning.
Thank you for using Red Bee
Media's Live Remote
Broadcasting Service.
