Covid-19 case numbers may be "relatively stable", but the country can not afford to get complacent, says the deputy prime minister, who is urging Aucklanders to get tested this weekend. Watch the latest government briefing live here.

Grant Robertson and Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay have held the latest briefing on case numbers, testing and vaccines.

There were 19 new community cases reported today, with just one still to be linked to existing cases.

At this afternoon's briefing, Robertson said that low number of unlinked cases remained encouraging, and that case numbers had been relatively stable, as they represented expected cases such as household contacts.

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"But we must not be complacent," said Robertson.

"One of the things I'm urging people in Auckland this weekend to do is get tested. We saw 19,000 tests across New Zealand and that's an excellent number, and we want to keep that level of testing up over the weekend."

He said getting the level of testing needed to get an accurate picture on whether the outbreak was contained will be one of the things Cabinet will be thinking about on Monday when it makes a decision on level changes.

He said the first thing that will be looked at on Monday by Cabinet is the public health advice given.

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Robertson said everyone would have seen in the past 18 months that the government has been cautious, methodical and careful in its decision making.

"We listen to the advice, we update that advice as close as possible to the time and that would include looking at any mystery cases."

Yesterday, 19 community cases were reported, with one in Upper Hauraki, a fall from 45 Auckland cases reported on Wednesday.

Robertson also spoke about the government's plan for financial assistance during the outbreak, saying the fourth round of the Wage Subsidy Scheme opened this morning.

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He said more than 652,000 applications so far has been approved, worth $3.3 billion.

Robertson said he was confident the economy will bounce back.

"A strong public health approach has delivered strong economic outcomes," he said.

Republished by Arrangement