There are 54 new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand, Ashley Bloomfield, the Director General of health has just announced: 32 are confirmed and 22 are probable. That brings the total to 1,160 coronavirus cases in New Zealand.

There are 12 people in hospital, with four in ICU (in Wellington, Waitematā, Counties Manukau and Southern District). One person is in a critical condition.

There is now confirmed community transmission of 2% but this number is likely to increase over the next few weeks.

Yesterday there were 2,908 tests carried out. The total number of tests performed to date is 42,826.

Bloomfield also spoke on the updated recommendations from the World Health Organisation on the use of masks. “The WHO doesn’t recommend the use of surgical masks by the general public, except in particular circumstances, [such as] where someone is sick and wearing a mask protects others, or someone is caring for a sick person and the mask can help them,” he said.

On the numbers announced today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, “for the moment we do appear at this moment to be on track”.