Before the weekend we gave a video update about when we would be seeing a change from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3. We gave some incorrect information, but now we have clear information to share.
Auckland will remain at Alert Level 4 until Tuesday, 14th September. On Monday, 13th September Cabinet will discuss the next plan.
Northland will remain at Alert Level 4 until Thursday night 11:59pm, but if wastewater shows signs of COVID-19, or people being tested come back with a positive result, then this plan will change.
Waikato and the rest of New Zealand will drop down to Alert Level 3 tomorrow, Tuesday, 31st August at 11:59pm meaning when you wake up on Wednesday morning it will be Alert Level 3.
The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, said that New Zealand going into full lock-down at Alert Level 4 has made a huge difference. The Delta variant of COVID-19 is unable to effectively spread because many people have stayed home. If we were not to go into Alert Level 4 lock-down, we could have been seeing 550 new daily cases of COVID-19, but instead we have only 53 new cases to report. Yesterday we saw 83 new cases, so we have seen a drop in cases which is very promising. We hope to see this trend continue, and eventually eliminate the Delta COVID-19 variant here in New Zealand.