Coronavirus update: New Zealand looking good on COVID-19

New Zealand (NZ) Health Minister Chris Hipkins said in a statement on Thursday, the country is looking good on the COVID-19 situation.

“We do not need zero cases to lift the lockdown of Auckland,” he added.

As on Wednesday, NZ had five new cases and a new potential "mini-cluster" has been identified. There were three new community cases, one of which is under investigation.

Auckland is in alert level 3 until 11.59pm on Sunday when it will move to a tighter level 2 with a 10-person limit on social gatherings.

The rest of the country is at normal level 2, where there is a 100-person limit on social gatherings.

more to come ...