Timeline - Coronavirus

Timeline - coronavirus - COVID-19

29 December

2019 Chinese authorities advise the WHO of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause, originating in Wuhan, Hubei province 

7 January 2020

China isolates a novel coronavirus, at first called 2019-nCoV and later SARS-CoV-2 

13 January  

First lab-confirmed case outside China identified, in Thailand 

30 January  

WHO declares the epidemic a global health emergency

3 February  

New Zealand temporarily bans entry of foreigners from, or who have travelled through, mainland China 

3 February  

Homecoming New Zealanders are exempt but must self-isolate for a fortnight

3-4 February  

Government-chartered plane flies to evacuate New Zealanders from Wuhan 

7 February 

Ministry asks arrivals from or via China to register their 14-day self-isolation with Healthline

12 February

Disease renamed COVID-19 

14 February

In New South Wales, GPs told to consider COVID-19 testing of symptomatic travellers arriving from five Asian countries other than mainland China 

17 February

WHO says COVID-19 not as deadly as SARS or MERS

19 February

The 157 people evacuated to New Zealand from Wuhan are discharged from quarantine in north Auckland

20 February

Six New Zealanders enter the quarantine facility after being evacuated to New Zealand by air from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. Four New Zealanders from the ship were admitted to hospital in Japan with the virus

25 February

Daily tally of new cases outside China exceeds new cases in China for the first time

28 February

New Zealand's first confirmed case reported to Ministry of Health

28 February

Entry ban on foreigners from/via China extended to Iran. Returning New Zealanders exempt but must self-isolate

2 March

People arriving from northern Italy and South Korea must self-isolate for 14 days

2 March

Today's 24-hour tally of new cases nearly eight times higher outside mainland China than inside

3 March

WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference postponed. It was to have been held in Auckland in April

4 March

New Zealand's second confirmed case announced

5 March

Third confirmed case announced

6 March

Fourth confirmed case announced

7 March

Fifth confirmed case announced

11 March

WHO declares the outbreak a pandemic

11 March

Donald Trump announces suspension of travel from most European countries to US for 30 days from 13 March

14 March

New Zealand's sixth confirmed case announced

14-15 March

Case definition and access to testing widened

15 March

Announcement of seventh and eighth confirmed cases, in Wellington and Queenstown, the first two to occur outside Auckland

16 March

All passengers arriving in New Zealand, except those arriving from 17 Pacific island countries/territories, will have to self-isolate for 14 days

16 March

Government bans non-essential outdoor gatherings of 500-plus people; schools and universities exempt

17 March

Government announces $500 million in funding for health services to combat the disease, as part of $12.1 billion COVID-19 economic package

17 March

Four new cases announced. The totals now are 12 confirmed and two probable cases

18 March

Eight new cases announced - four in Auckland one in Christchurch, two in Waikato and one in Invercargill. The total is 20 confirmed; two probable

19 March

Eight new cases announced - two in Southern DHB area, two in Taranaki, one in Rotoura, two in Auckland and one in Northland. National total now 28

19 March

Government bans indoor events with more than 100 people; exemptions for workplaces, schools, supermarkets and public transport

19 March

Government advises New Zealanders not to travel overseas and urges New Zealanders who are travelling overseas to consider returning home immediately

20 March

Border closed to most foreigners. Exempted categories include essential health workers

20 March

Eleven new cases announced - five are in Auckland, two in Waikato, two in Wellington region, one in Canterbury and one in Hawke's Bay. Total is now 39 confirmed cases

21 March

Thirteen new cases announced. Total is now 52 confirmed cases and four probable cases

21 March

Alert level system announced. New Zealand is at Level 2

22 March

Fourteen new cases announced. Total now 66 confirmed cases and four probable cases

23 March

Thirty-six new cases announced. Total now 102 confirmed cases and four probable cases. Two cases of likely community spread, in Auckland and Wairarapa

23 March

Government lifts country to Alert Level 3 and announces widespread restrictions on movement will come into effect at 11.59pm on 25 March under Alert Level 4

24 March

Forty new confirmed cases announced, and three new probable cases. Ministry of Health starts announcing cumulative total of confirmed and probable cases as a combined tally, which now stands at 155

25 March

Fifty new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total is now 205

26 March

Seventy-eight new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total: 283

26 March

Case definition clarified in Auckland to include "justifiable clinical judgement"

27 March

Eighty-five new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total: 368

28 March

Eighty-three new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total 451

29 March

New Zealand's first COVID-19 death - a woman in her 70s in hospital on the West Coast. Sixty-three new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total 514

30 March

Seventy-six new confirmed cases, one of which was reclassified from probably. Combined total 589

31 March

Fifty-eight new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total 647. Case definition widened: recent overseas travel/case contact dropped

1 April

Sixty-one new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total 708

2 April

Eighty-nine new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total 797

3 April

Seventy-one new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total 868

4 April

Eight-two new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total 950

5 April

Eighty-nine new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total 1039

6 April

Sixty-seven new confirmed or probabe cases. Combined total 1106

7 April

Fifty-four new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total 1160

8 April

Fifty new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total 1210

9 April

Twenty-nine new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total 1239

10 April

Second New Zealand death reported, a woman in her 90s who died at Burwood Hospital in Christchurch on 9 April. Forty-four new comfirmed or probable cases. Combined total 1283

11 April

Two new deaths, bringing the total of deaths to four. Twenty-nine new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total 1312

12 April

Eighteen new confirmed or probable cases. Combined case total: 1330

13 April

One new death. Deaths total: five. Nineteen new confirmed or probable cases. Combined case total: 1349

14 April

Four new deaths. Deaths total: nine. Seventeen new confirmed or probable cases. Combined case total: 1366

15 April

Deaths total remains nine. Twenty new confirmed or probable cases. Combined case total: 1386

16 April

Fifteen new confirmed or probable cases. Combined case total: 1401

17 April

Eight new confirmed or probable cases. Combined case total: 1409

18 April

Thirteen new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total: 1422

19 April

One new death reported. Total deaths: 12. Nine new confirmed or probable cases. Combined case total: 1431

20 April

Nine new confirmed or probable cases. Combined case total: 1440

21 April

One new death. Total deaths: 13. Nine new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total: 1445

22 April

One new death. Total deaths: 14. Six new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total: 1451. However, three of these cases were removed, pending further inquiries, on 23 April, because they may have been counted in reporting to the WHO by Uruguay, from where these three people returned to New Zealand. Revised case total: 1448

23 April

Two new deaths. Total deaths: 16. Three new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total: 1451

24 April

One new death. Total deaths: 17. Five new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total: 1456

25 April

One new death. Total deaths: 18. Five new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total: 1461

26 April

Nine new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total: 1470

27 April

One new death. Total deaths: 19. Five new confirmed or probable cases, and six probable cases reclassified as not a case or under investigation. Combined total down one to 1469. Alert Level reduced from 4 to 3 at 11.59pm

28 April

Three new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total: 1472

29 April

Two new confirmed or probable cases, and one probable case reclassified as confirmed. Combined total: 1474

30 April

Three new confirmed cases, and one probable case reclassified as not a case. Combined total: 1476

1 May

Three new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1479

2 May

One new death. Total deaths: 20. Six new confirmed or probable cases. Combined total of cases: 1485

3 May

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1487

4 May

No new cases. One probable case reclassified as a confirmed case. Combined total remains 1487

5 May

No new cases. One previously reported probable case reclassified as not a case. Combined total confirmed/probable down one to 1486

6 May

One new confirmed case and one new probable case. Combined total: 1488

7 May

One new confirmed case. Combined total of confirmed and probable cases: 1489

8 May

One new confirmed case. One probable case reclassified as confirmed. Combined total: 1490

9 May

One new confirmed and one new probable case. Combined total: 1492

10 May

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1494

11 May

Three new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1497

12 May

No new cases. Combined total of confirmed and probable cases: 1497

13 May

No new cases. In stages over the coming days, New Zealand moves from Alert Level 3 to 2 from 11.59pm

14 May

No new cases

15 May

One new confirmed case. Combined total of confirmed and probable cases: 1498

16 May

No new cases

17 May

One new confirmed case. Combined total of confirmed and probable cases: 1499

18 May

No new cases

19 May

No new cases, but four confirmed cases are added to the total who tested positive in Uruguay before returning to New Zealand in April. Uruguay did not report those cases to the WHO. Combined New Zealand total of confirmed and probable cases: 1503

20 May

No new cases

21 May

No new cases

22 May

One new case. Combined total of confirmed and probable cases: 1504

23-27 May

No new cases

28 May

One new death, bringing the death toll to 22. No new cases

29 May - 7 June

No new cases

8 June

New Zealand now has no active cases. The last remaining case has been symptom-free for 48 hours, is regarded as recovered and has been released from isolation.

8 June

New Zealand steps down to Alert Level 1 from 11.59pm

16 June

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total of confirmed and probable cases: 1506

18 June

One new confirmed case. Combined total of confirmed and probable cases: 1507

20 June

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total of confirmed and probable cases: 1509

21 June

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total of confirmed and probable cases: 1511

22 June

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total of confirmed and probable cases: 1513

23 June

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total of confirmed and probable cases: 1515

24 June

One new confirmed case. Combined total of confirmed and probable cases: 1516

25 June

Three new confirmed cases. Combined total of confirmed and probable cases: 1519

26 June

One new confirmed case. Combined total: 1520

27 June

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1522

28 June

Four new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1526

29 June

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1528. New Zealand has 22 active cases, all recently returned from overseas

2 July

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1530. Health minister David Clark resigns; replaced by Chris Hipkins

3 July

Details of a number of COVID-19 cases are leaked by Michelle Boag to National MP Hamish Walker, who leaks them to media; he later says he will not seek re-election

5 July

Three new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1533

6 July

1 New confirmed case. Combined total: 1534

7 July

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1536

8 July

One new confirmed case. Combined total: 1537. A man absconds from managed isolation in Auckland for more than an hour and tests positive

9 July

Three new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1540

10 July

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1542

11 July

One new confirmed case. Combined total: 1543

12 July

One new confirmed ase: Combined total: 1544

14 July

One new confirmed case. Combined total: 1545

15 July

Two new confirmed cases: Combined total: 1547

16 July

One new confirmed case: Combined total: 1548

17 July

One new confirmed case: Combined total: 1549

18 July

One new confirmed case: Combined total: 1550

19 July

Three new confirmed cases: Combined total: 1553

20 July

One new confirmed case: Combined total: 1554

21 July

ONe new confirmed case: Combined total: 1555

24 July

One new confirmed case. Combined total: 1556

24 July

Five people abscond from a managed isolation facility, making a total of eight who have done so

28 July

One new confirmed case. Combined total: 1557

29 July

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1559

30 July

One new confirmed case. Combined total: 1560

1 August

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1562

2 August

Three new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1565

3 August

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1567

5 August

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1569

11 August

Five new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1574. Four of the new cases are in the community, in Auckland, and do not have a known source. It has been 102 days since the last case that was acquired locally from an unknown source.

12 August

Auckland goes into Alert Level 3 lockdown from midday, until midnight on 14 August.  The rest of New Zealand goes into level 2 for that period.

12 August

One new confirmed case in managed isolation, and four new probable cases in the Auckland community outbreak. Combined total: 1579

13 August

Fourteen new confirmed cases and four probable cases reclassified. Combined total: 1589

14 August

Twelve new confirmed cases and one probable case. Combined total: 1602. Current alert levels to be extended

15 August

Seven new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1609

16 August

Thirteen new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1622

17 August

Nine new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1631

18 August

Thirteen new confirmed cases and one probable case reclassified as under investigation. Combined total: 1643

19 August

Six new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1649

20 August

Five new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1654

21 August

Eleven new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1665

22 August 

Six new confirmed cases. Combined total 1671

23 August

Three new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1674

24 August

Eight new confirmed and one new probable case. Combined total: 1683

25 August

Seven new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1690

26 August

Five new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1695

27 August

Seven new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1702

28 August

Twelve new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1714

29 August

Thirteen new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1727

30 August

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1729. Auckland steps down to Alert Level 2 at 11.59pm, informally called "level 2.5" because of smaller permitted gathering sizes than the rest of the country

31 August

Nine new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1738

1 September

Fourteen new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1752

2 September

Five new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1757

3 September

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1759

4 September

One death, bringing the total number of deaths to 23. Five new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1764

5 September

One new death, bringing the total number of deaths to 24. Three new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1767

6 September

Five new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1772

7 September

Four new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1776

8 September

Six new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1782

9 September

Six new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1788

10 September

Four new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1792

11 September

One new confirmed case. Combined total: 1793

12 September

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1795

13 September

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1797

14 September

One new confirmed case. Combined total: 1798

15 September

Three new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1801

16 September

One new death, bringing the total number of deaths to 25. One new confirmed case. Combined total of cases: 1802

17 September

Seven new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1809

19 September

Two new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1811

20 September

Four new confirmed cases. Combined total: 1815

21 September

New Zealand, except Auckland, moves to Alert Level 1 at 11.59pm

2021

14 February

Auckland put into Alert Level 3 lockdown at 11.59pm and the rest of the country is raised to level 2 - initially for three days - after three cases are detected in the community in south Auckland. They are a Papatoetoe High School student and her parents. Also, one new case in managed isolation

15 February

Five new cases in managed isolation, one of which is an historical case. The first two Papatoetoe-related cases, reported yesterday, are the UK variant

17 February

Two new cases in the community, both linked to the 14 February cluster. New Zealand has had 2340 cases (combined total of confirmed and probable), including 26 deaths

17 February

A third new community case reported for the day, making six in total so far in the south Auckland cluster; and one case in managed isolation

18 February

Auckland drops to Alert Level 2, from 3 (with specific restrictions for the Papatoetoe High School community until 22 February), and the rest of the country to level 1, from 2

18 February

Three new cases in managed isolation

19 February

One new case, making seven in the Papatoetoe-related cluster; and three in managed isolation, one of which is historical

19 February

New Zealand's first vaccination against COVID-19, using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Comirnaty. Vaccinators are the first recipients

20 February

Two new cases in managed isolation

20 February

Vaccination of border workers begins

21 February

One new case in managed isolation

22 February

One new community case, in the Papatoetoe-related cluster; and six new cases in managed isolation, four of which are historical

23 February

Three new cases in the Papatoetoe-related cluster (now 11 in total), and five in managed isolation. Auckland (except Papatoetoe High School community) drops to level 1

24 February

Two new cases in managed isolation

25 February

Three new cases in managed isolation

26 February

Two new cases in managed isolation; and one new case in the Papatoetoe-related cluster (now 12 in total)

27 February

One new case in managed isolation; and two new cases in the Papatoetoe-related cluster (now 14 in total)

28 February

Two new cases in managed isolation; one new case in the Papatoetoe-related cluster (now 15 in total). Auckland goes into level 3 lockdown at 6am, level 2 elsewhere

1 March

One new case in managed isolation

2 March

Four new cases in managed isolation

3 March

Two new cases in managed isolation

4 March

Six new cases in managed isolation

6 March

Nine new cases in managed isolation

7 March

At 6am, Auckland drops to level 2, from 3, and the rest of the country to level 1, from 2

7 March

One new case in managed isolation and one border-related case, an airline crew member who had been in the Auckland community before testing positive

8 March

Five new cases in managed isolation

9 March

Four new cases in managed isolation, one of which is historical

10 March

One new case in managed isolation

11 March

Six new cases in managed isolation

12 March

At midday, Auckland drops to Alert Level 1.

12 March

One new case in managed isolation

13 March

Three new cases in managed isolation and two historical cases

14 March

One new case in managed isolation

15 March

Seven new cases in managed isolation

16 March

Two new cases in managed isolation

17 March

Three new cases in managed isolation

19 March

Ten new cases in managed isolation since 17 March

21 March

Eight new cases in managed isolation since 19 March

22 March

Eight new cases in managed isolation, one historical case and one case involving a managed-isolation facility worker at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland

23 March

A household contact of yesterday's MIF case returns a "weak positive" result. Also, three new cases are reported in managed isolation, plus a historical case

24 March

Three new cases in managed isolation. Yesterday's "weak positive" case has been retested: they were negative on PCR analysis and for blood serology and the person is now considered to have had a fleeting infection or a false positive

25 March

Six new cases in managed isolation. Also, a genomic link has been found between two cases with the UK variant at Grand Mercure managed isolation facilitiy in Auckland. They were recent returnees staying in rooms on separate floors of the hotel and had arrived on separate flights, within two days of each other. Additional testing was implemented at the facility and 250 returnees who had left since 10 March were to be asked to get tested and isolate at home until receiving a negative result

26 March

Three new cases in managed isolation. Around 10,000 people in New Zealand have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and around 40,000 have received one dose

27 March

One new case in managed isolation and one historical case

28 March

One new case in managed isolation

29 March

Eleven new cases in managed isolation

30 March

Two new cases in managed isolation

31 March

Two new cases in managed isolation

1 April

Five new cases in managed isolation. A previously reported positive case has been reclassified as a historical infection which has been reported in the person's home country and removed from New Zealand's tally

4 April

Six new cases in managed isolation

6 April

Seventeen new cases, over two days, in managed isolation

7 April

Seven new cases in managed isolation

8 April

One new case, "B", in a border-related worker at the Grand Millennium managed isolation facility; and 23 new cases in recently arrived travellers in managed isolation, four of which are cases of historical infection

9 April

Six new cases in managed isolation

10 April

Ten new cases in managed isolation

11 April

Four new cases. Three are travellers in managed isolation. The fourth is case C, the fourth case in the Grand Millennium cluster, who is a worker there and a close contact of case B reported on 8 April. Case A is a cleaner at the hotel who returned a positive result on 21 March (reported 22 March). The viruses in A and B have been genomically linked and have in turn been linked to a traveller who arrived on 13 March

11 April

Temporary ban comes into effect on travellers, including New Zealand citizens and residents, coming from India, until 28 April

12 April

Seven new cases in managed isolation and one historical case. Genome sequencing shows the virus in case C of the Grand Millennium cluster is closely related to the virus in A and B

13 April

Four new cases in managed isolation

14 April

Two new cases in managed isolation

15 April

Two new cases in managed isolation

16 April

One new case in managed isolation

18 April

Four new cases and one historical case in managed isolation. The total number of confirmed cases is 2239.

19 April

Trans-Tasman quarantine-free travel bubble starts. Two new cases in managed isolation

20 April

One new case, a border worker (a cleaner) at Auckland Airport, and one historical case

21 April

One new case in managed isolation. Separately, genome sequencing has linked yesterday's border-worker case to a case who arrived in New Zealand on 10 April

23 April

Government announces travel restrictions from countries in the new "very-high-risk" category, defined as more than 50 cases of COVID-19 per 1000 arrivals to New Zealand from those countries this year. India, Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Pakistan meet the threshold. From 11.59pm, 28 April, travellers from those countries will be temporarily restricted to New Zealand citizens, their partners and children, and parents of children who are New Zealand citizens.

22 April

Three new cases in managed isolation

24 April

Two new cases in managed isolation. Quarantine-free travel between Western Australia and New Zealand has been suspended because Perth and the outer-metropolitan area of Peel have been placed in a three-day lockdown

27 April

Eight new cases in managed isolation

28 April

New Zealand resumes quarantine-free travel with Western Australia, except for close contacts. Two new cases in managed isolation

29 April

Three new cases in managed isolation

1 May

Direct flights from Western Australia paused

2 May

Four new cases in managed isolation. Flights from Western Australia resume

3 May

Four new cases in managed isolation

4 May

One new case in managed isolation

5 May

Three new cases and three historical cases in recent returnees in managed isolation

6 May

One new case and three potential historical cases in managed isolation. Quarantine-free travel "paused" with New South Wales while the source of two community cases in Sydney is investigated

8 May

Three new cases and three historical cases, all in managed isolation

9 May

Two new cases in managed isolation. Travel "pause" with New South Wales ends at 11.59pm

10 May

Two new historical cases in managed isolation, and one previously reported (on 6 May) case now deemed historical

12 May

One new case in managed isolation

13 May

One new case in managed isolation

14 May

One historical case in managed isolation

16 May

One new case in managed isolation

16 May

Two weak positive results were returned from wastewater testing at Moa Point, Wellington on 14 and 15 May, which were probably from recently recovered cases continuing to shed virus

17 May

Five new cases in managed isolation

18 May

One new case in managed isolation and one historical case

18 May

First flight to Cook Islands after two-way quarantine-free travel was permitted from 17 May

19 May

Six new cases in managed isolation

19 May

Weak positive results have been returned from wastewater samples at Porirua and Karori in Wellington on 16 May, probably from recently recovered cases continuing to shed virus

20 May

One new case in managed isolation

20 May

Health Ministry says weak positive results have been returned recently from wastewater testing in Wellington, Christchurch, Rotorua and Queenstown

21 May

Three new cases in managed isolation

23 May

Six new cases in managed isolation

24 May

Four new cases in managed isolation

25 May

Two new cases in managed isolation

25 May

Quarantine-free travel with Victoria paused, initially for 72 hours, from 7.59pm, while the source of five community cases in Melbourne is investigated

27 May

One new case in managed isolation

27 May 

Victoria travel-bubble pause extended to 7.59pm on 4 June. Around 5000 people have recently arrived in New Zealand from Victoria and they must self-quarantine in their home or accommodation until they return a negative test result. Victoria has imposed a seven-day lockdown. Its outbreak has expanded to 26 cases in the community

30 May

Two new cases in managed isolation

31 May

One new case in managed isolation

2 June

Six new cases in managed isolation

3 June

One new case and one historical case in managed isolation

3 June

Pause in quarantine-free travel with Victoria extended to 11.59pm on 10 June

4 June

One new case in managed isolation

6 June

One new case in managed isolation

8 June

Ten new cases in managed isolation

8 June

Government says Pfizer has scheduled delivery of around 1 million vaccine doses to New Zealand in July. This follows an earlier statement that stocks would run low in June

9 June

Two new cases in managed isolation and two cases deemed historical

10 June

One new case in managed isolation. Pause in quarantine-free travel with Victoria extended for seven days

11 June

Five new cases in managed isolation

13 June

Four new cases and two historical cases, all in managed isolation

14 June

One new case in managed isolation

15 June

One historical case reported

16 June

Two new cases in managed isolation

17 June

Two new cases in managed isolation. Confirmed cases total now stands at 2357. Infection scare at Stewart Island after a child returned an indeterminate result

Halt on quarantine-free travel bubble with Victoria continues until 22 June. NZ health officials assess risk posed by quarantine-free travel with New South Wales and decide not to halt that bubble

Government announces timing of vaccination for priority group 4: over-60s to be offered vaccination from 28 July and over-55s from 11 August; over-45s to receive invitations from mid to late August and over-35s from mid to late September; and everyone else being eligible from October. People will be asked to use the Book My Vaccine online booking system, or can phone a new national vaccination booking call centre

18 June

One new case in managed isolation. The Stewart Island child is thought not to have had active COVID infection, after the swab returned a positive result for rhinovirus,  and COVID testing of the family and community returned negative results

20 June

Four new cases in managed isolation

21 June

Three new cases in managed isolation

Medsafe approves extension of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine indications to ages 12-15

22 June

Quarantine-free travel bubble with New South Wales paused at 11.59pm until 25 June after 10 new community cases reported in the Australian state, taking the recent tally linked to the community cluster to 21

Quarantine-free travel bubble with Victoria to resume at 11.59, following NZ health officials' assessment of the risk from Victoria being low

In New Zealand, 410,973 scans of the COVID Tracer app have been completed in the past 24 hours

23 June

Wellington region put into Alert Level 2 at 6pm following the visit of an Australian man who tested positive after returning to Sydney. The man was in Wellington from 19 to 21 June and was likely to have contracted the virus in Sydney before his visit

Four new cases in managed isolation; none in the community

24 June

New South Wales bubble pause extended to 11.59pm on 6 July

COVID Tracer app scans up: 571,514 in past 24 hours

25 June

Two new cases in managed isolation; no community cases.

COVID Tracer app scans up again: 894,288 in past 24 hours

26 June

Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 confirmed in Sydney man who visited Wellington.

Travel bubble with all Australian states and territories paused at 10.30pm, until 11.59pm on 29 June, because of multiple outbreaks in Australia posing an increasing risk to New Zealand.

Four new cases in managed isolation; no community cases.

COVID Tracer app scans in past 24 hours: 958,732

27 June

Alert Level 2 extended in Wellington region until 11.59pm on 29 June, which will be 6-1/4 days in total.

One new case in managed isolation.

So far, 2444 people have been identified as contacts of the Sydney Delta case who visited Wellington.

A person who returned an indeterminate COVID-19 test result later tests negative and is stated not to have active infection

28 June

Government has sought advice on making COVID Tracer app scanning compulsory in high-risk locations, such as bars, restaurants and churches.

Government is considering making mask use compulsory at Alert Level 2 or higher in certain high-risk locations, such as indoor events, places of worship and retail outlets.

Ten new cases in managed isolation; none in the community

29 June

Wellington region to return to Alert Level 1, from 2, at 11.59pm. 

Travel bubble pause with Australia extended to 11.59pm on 4 July, after which the bubble will reopen with South Australia, ACT, Tasmania and Victoria. Bubble pause with Western Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales and Queensland will be reviewed again on Tuesday 6 July. 

30 June

One new case in managed isolation

1 July

One new case in managed isolation

2 July

Two new cases and one historical case in managed isolation

4 July

Seven new cases in managed isolation. Two other cases, previously reported as under investigation, have been reclassified as historical

The partial re-opening of the travel bubble with Australia, announced on 29 June, took effect today

5 July

Seven new cases in managed isolation

A shipment containing 150,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, New Zealand's largest shipment yet, arrived by plane in Auckland yesterday. Until the shipment's arrival, DHBs only had enough stock to last until 7 July

Travel bubble with Western Australia and Northern Territory to resume from 11.59pm on 9 July. From the same time, "managed return" flights will start from New South Wales and Queensland for people ordinarily resident in New Zealand

6 July

One new case in managed isolation. COVID Tracer app scans per 24 hours have dropped back down to 657,345

Two new cases in mariners. The two flew into Auckland yesterday with seven other mariners. All nine were tested at Auckland Airport and driven to New Plymouth, where they went to sea in a fishing boat, the Viking Bay, in which they are now isolating in international waters. Two port workers and the driver have been identified as contacts and they are in isolation.

7 July

Three new cases in managed isolation

The Viking Bay is returning to port, where the two cases and 13 other crew will disembark to enter managed isolation and quarantine. The three close contacts - a bus driver, a port pilot and a customs officer -  are fully  vaccinated and wore PPE when interacting with any of the nine newly arrived mariners. The mariners had arrived in Auckland on a "red" flight, from which everyone, as required by red-flight rules, is in managed isolation. Everyone on the flight, except the two cases, has tested negative.

Pause on travel bubble with Queensland and New South Wales to continue.

8 July

One new case in managed isolation

The Viking Bay's crew size is now reported by the Health Ministry as 20, of whom 15 will enter an MIQ facility once the boat docks. Where it will dock is today uncertain. A second foreign-owned fishing vessel has declared flu-like symptoms on board and has asked to dock in New Zealand

9July

One historical case in managed isolation

Managed return flights start from Queensland

11 July

Three new cases in managed isolation

12July

One new case in managed isolation

The Viking Bay has docked in Wellington as a quarantined vessel and a fence has been erected. Thirteen of the crew of 20 will transfer to a Wellington quarantine facility

Quarantine-free travel (QFT) from New South Wales remains on hold. Managed return flights from Sydney begin tomorrow, with travellers having to go into 14 days of managed isolation on return. QFT from Queensland to resume at 11.59 tonight.

Vaccination made compulsory for more border workers

13 July

Five new cases in managed isolation

Positive COVID-19 tests returned by 15 Viking Bay crew. The 15 have been transferred to an on-shore quarantine facility in Wellington. Five crew who remain on the ship have returned negative test results

Start of managed return flights, followed by 14 days’ managed isolation, for New Zealanders returning from Sydney

Spanish-flagged fishing boat Playa Zahara berthed at Port Taranaki today. Crew being tested following reports of flu-like illness on board

14 July

Four new cases in managed isolation

Last night, one of the five crew on the Viking Bay became unwell and was transferred to on-shore quarantine, despite a previous negative test. 

One Playa Zahara crew member, who has returned an indeterminate test result, remains symptomatic

15 July

Five new cases in managed isolation.

Of the 18 crew of Playa Zahara, 16 have tested positive.

The latest mariner transferred to shore quarantine from Viking Bay has returned a second negative test.

The first infringement notices for border workers who have not complied with COVID-19 testing requirements have been issued. Eighteen notices were issued.

16July

Five new cases and four new historical cases in managed isolation.

Thirteen of the crew of the Playa Zahara, docked at Lyttelton, are to be moved to shore quarantine in Christchurch, leaving five on board.

Quarantine-free travel from Victoria paused from 1.59pm

18 July

Ten new cases in managed isolation, including three of the four remaining crew on board the quarantined Viking Bay in Wellington; and two historical cases.

Playa Zahara arrives at Lyttelton and is quarantined; 13 crew members taken to shore isolation, with five to remain on board.

19 July

Marshall Island-flagged container ship the Mattina, which arrived at Bluff last night, is quarantined there. Two of its 21 crew have tested positive.

Three new cases in managed isolation

More than 370,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the largest shipment to New Zealand so far, arrived yesterday, two days early.

20 July

Seven more positive cases on the quarantined ship Mattina, bringing the total to nine.

Six new border-related cases. (Three of those are on the Mattina. The other six Mattina cases are not yet included in the Health Ministry's daily case tally update.)

Quarantine-free travel from South Australia paused at 11.59pm. People who ordinarily live in New Zealand will be allowed to come home on managed return flights

21 July

Six Mattina cases added to the Health Ministry's daily case tally update. Two cases from the ship, quarantined at Bluff, taken to hospital for assessment

22 July

Three new cases and one historical case in managed isolation.

Three new cases on the Mattina, bringing the total there to 12. One more potential case is under investigation and three of the crew have serological evidence of past infection

23 July

Nineteen new cases, all of them mariners already in isolation; plus one historical case in managed isolation.

Sixteen of the mariner cases are crew of the Playa Zahara and three are from the Mattina

Quarantine-free travel to New Zealand from anywhere in Australia to be suspended from 11.59 tonight for at least eight weeks. Managed return flights will fly New Zealanders home for the next seven days.

SARS-CoV-2 detected in New Plymouth wastewater by ESR testing is thought to be from recently recovered cases continuing to shed the virus.

24 July

Three new cases and two historical cases in managed isolation.

25 July

Two new cases in managed isolation.

Two historical cases in Playa Zahara crew members.

26 July

Three historical cases in managed isolation.

27 July

One new case in managed isolation

All Playa Zahara crew members have recovered. The vessel was deep-cleaned on Friday and is expected to leave Lyttelton tomorrow

Fourteen of the 20 Viking Bay crew are back on the vessel in Wellington; six remain ashore in managed isolation