There have been 70 new cases of Covid-19 in the community reported in New Zealand today, as the government considers whether to the extend the national lockdown.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health said there were 19 community cases in hospital, including one in ICU. All were in a stable condition.

It said the total number of cases linked to the current community outbreak was 347 - 333 in Auckland and 14 in Wellington.

The Ministry said there were 278 cases that were clear epidemiological links to another case or sub-cluster. Links for another 69 cases were still to be fully established.

Of these 70 new cases, 44 were Pacific peoples, 11 were Asian, six were European, six were Māori, and the ethnicity of three was unknown.

The total number of active cases in New Zealand was at present 384 and there have been a total of 2941 cases in Aotearoa.

Yesterday the Ministry of Health announced 68 new cases. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said lockdown was having an effect, as health authorities had not seen a spread beyond Auckland and Wellington.

READ MORE

• Can employers fire you if you refuse to get vaccinated? An expert weighs in on COVID-19 vaccine mandates
• Scientists predict when the next pandemic as bad as COVID-19 might happen
• 2021 may prove a 'golden year' with more outbreaks, lockdowns expected next year
• Fox News host mocks Jacinda Ardern, slams NZ and Australia's COVID-19 response

Cabinet will decide today whether or not to extend the national lockdown from midnight or allow regions to drop down alert levels.

A media conference announcing that decision will be held at 3pm.

There were no cases reported in managed isolation today.

The ministry also said today that the confirmed case who was a staff member in the dementia ward at Amberlea Home and Hospital Care Facility worked two shifts while unknowingly infectious.

"They are fully vaccinated and adhered to strict Infection, Prevention and Control protocol, including wearing face coverings and other PPE. A mobile testing unit will be operating at Amberlea today and all residents and staff are being asked to have a test."

There were no unexpected detections of Covid-19 in New Zealand's wastewater to report, with continued positive results in Warkworth, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

"Covid-19 was detected in a sample collected on Tuesday from Warkworth but nearby areas including Snells/Algies continue to be negative. In the Wellington region, the virus continues to only be detected in samples collected from Moa Point and likely reflects known cases shedding the virus.

"A further sample collected from Christchurch collected on Wednesday was processed today and has returned a positive result. As reported yesterday, this result is consistent with virus shedding from those cases in managed isolation and quarantine facilities in Christchurch, however, further testing is underway from a range of sites in Christchurch."

The ministry said 90,757 vaccines were administered yesterday, including 65,541 first doses and 25,216 second doses - the biggest daily total to date.

More than 3.11 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in this country - 2 million first doses and more than 1.1 million second doses.