There have been three new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported today.

Two cases are linked to the St Margaret’s Hospital and Rest Home in Auckland – both are nurses at Waitakere Hospital. 

Both had been asymptomatic throughout a stand-down period which they spent in precautionary self-isolation at home. They were tested as part of routine requirements for their safe return to work and the results came back positive.

The Ministry of Health says the nurses remain in isolation awaiting further testing. 

“Although further cases in clusters cannot be ruled out, strong precautionary measures remain in place at the hospital and the St Margaret's facility.”

The third case is a person who has travelled back from overseas.  

The total number of confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases reported in New Zealand is now to 1497 – 1147 of which have been confirmed.

Ninety-three percent of all cases (1386 people) are now considered to have recovered, an increase of 15 on yesterday.

There are two people in hospital with COVID-19 – one each in Middlemore and North Shore hospitals. Neither is in intensive care.

The Southern District Health Board has amended figures from yesterday to show seven active cases remaining in its region. 207 people have recovered and there have been two deaths.

The World Health Organisation reports the number of cases globally is edging towards 4 million with 3,917,366 confirmed cases now having been reported – 61,578 of those in the previous 24 hours. There have been 274,361 deaths from COVID-19, up 8499 in the previous 24 hours.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will address the country at 4pm today with a further update on COVID-19 Alert Level restrictions.