A total of 44 new cases recorded over the weekend, with more expected because of spread among large households
New Zealand recorded 24 new local cases of coronavirus on Sunday, all in Auckland, a day before a decision is due on whether to ease the city’s level-four lockdown.
Health officials warned that case numbers would increase in coming days because some recent cases had come from large households. The director of public health, Caroline McElnay, said they were still “cautiously optimistic” that the bulk of the outbreak was under control.