3.20pm: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield have announced all of New Zealand will remain at Alert Level four until at least 11.59pm Tuesday night (August 24). 

The decision came as officials still hold concern over the amount of contacts exposed to the outbreak and where they may now be located across the country. 

Jacinda and Ashley say we are in “a reasonable position” in terms of this outbreak, as all cases are linked and there are no “random” cases. 

“Our public health team have continued to report that when they have contacted close contacts, they have generally all been at home,” Jacinda says. 

“We are still waiting on a large number of contacts to be tested and return results.

“We know this is now an outbreak outside of Auckland, with cases in Wellington.

“We have hundreds (of people) who were at locations, with people now located across the country.

“This may pop up elsewhere in the country over the next few days. 

“We just don’t quite know the full scale of this Delta outbreak.”

Ashley reported 11 new community cases in New Zealand, which brings the total community outbreak cases to 31. 

He says genome sequencing has linked all community cases to the first reported case in this outbreak, referred to as Case A. 

Ashley says 162 contacts close to the outbreak are now in places outside the outbreak zone, including the South Island. 

These are all being contacted, or have already been traced and asked to isolate. 

Jacinda implored anyone who is showing cold or flu symptoms to get a test immediately. 

Everyone over the age of 12 visiting essential services such as chemists or supermarkets must use a mask, but everyone is asked to please wear a mask if simply leaving their home. 

Continue washing your hands and practicing social distancing and good hygiene.