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