The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Invercargill has now risen to 25, with seven in the Southland District and one in the Gore District.

There have been 59 confirmed cases in Queenstown-Lakes, Central Otago cases are now at 12, and four in Clutha district.

Nationally, there have been 82 new cases of COVID-19 reported today – 52 confirmed and 30 probable. That brings the total number of cases in New Zealand to 950.

A wedding in Bluff has been identified as the second largest cluster of cases in the country, with 55 cases of COVID-19 now linked to that event.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said 10 people were in hospital, including one in the intensive care unit at Wellington Regional Hospital. All are stable.

An average of 2264 tests are being carried out in New Zealand each day. Yesterday 3631 were carried out – the largest so far in a single day. So far 33,116 tests have been carried out and Dr Bloomfield said there was now testing capacity around the country for more than 6000 tests to be carried out each day, should the need arise.

So far 127 reported cases have recovered from COVID-19. Recovery is defined as when at least 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms and the patient has been symptom-free for at least 48 hours. A negative test is not required from those in self-isolation at home but may be carried out at the discretion of the clinician when the patient has been in hospital.

Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay said the technical advisory group met yesterday and agreed to expand the definition of a COVID-19 case to separate the respiratory symptoms from travel history or known contact with a confirmed or probable case.

“Testing will now be available for any respiratory problems suggestive of COVID-19 regardless of their travel history or contact with a confirmed or probable case, and fever is no longer a requirement,” she said.

The latest World Health Organisation figures show there were 75,853 new cases reported in the previous 24 hours, bringing the global total to 972,303. There have been 50,322 deaths, 4823 of them in the previous 24-hour period.

View today’s national briefing, in full, below