Covid-19 has been circulating in New Zealand for more than TWO WEEKS after making it into the country from NSW - as it records another 11 cases
- New Zealand records 11 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, all located in Auckland
- There are now 21 positive Delta variant cases in Auckland with two in hospital
- More than 75 virus exposure sites listed with the oldest case from August 3
- Over 60 Covid-19 venues of interest were identified in Auckland on Thursday
- Officials confirmed on Wednesday all NZ cases were linked to the NSW outbreak
Auckland's backdated Covid-19 exposure sites worryingly show the virus has been circulating in the country for more than two weeks as the city records 11 new cases.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed all cases were identified as the Delta variant strain, after it was linked to New South Wales with contact tracers scrambling to work out how and when the virus made its way into New Zealand.
The Ministry of Health have identified 75 potential exposure sites with more than 60 locations of interest identified in Auckland alone, with the oldest case detected at Sumthin Dumplin eatery on August 3.
New Zealand's Covid-19 cases have now jumped to 21 with 11 positive cases recorded on Thursday - all located in Auckland
There are currently 21 positive cases of Covid-19 including two in hospital, with health officials concerned over the likelihood a majority were infectious while out and about in the community.
Twelve of the 21 cases were confirmed to be part of the same Auckland cluster while an additional eight infections are still being investigated.
Overnight two people were hospitalised, one is in their 20s and one in their 40s, while both were reported to be in a stable condition.
Over 60 Covid-19 exposure sites of interest were identified in Auckland on Thursday - including a Devonport Pharmacy visited by a Covid-19 infected man in his 50s
Director general of health Ashley Bloomfield expected over 1,000 people to be contacted after authorities investigate 362 individuals categorised as close contacts of positive infections.
Mr Bloomfield said the numbers were not unexpected and anticipated community cases will continue to increase.
Concerns grow as contact tracers investigate a large number of venues ranging from North Shore malls and supermarkets including bus routes to and from Auckland City.
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Locations of interest include popular venues such as Bar 101, Dennys, Event Cinemas, The Warehouse and Starbucks.
New Zealand's first case reported during its Delta variant outbreak was identified in a 58-year-old man from Devonport in Auckland on Tuesday.
The man had travelled to Coromandel Peninsula over the weekend and returned to Auckland on Sunday - with eight infections linked to the case so far.
Bar 101 in Auckland's CBD has been identified as a location of interest by NZ health officials
As a result New Zealand was placed under level four restrictions on Tuesday as it entered a three day lockdown with restrictions in Auckland and the Coromandel likely to be extended to seven days.
It was confirmed on Wednesday all cases in New Zealand were linked to the NSW outbreak, but health officials are yet to determine how.
NSW has recorded its worst day since the start of the Covid pandemic with 681 new infections on Thursday with Premier Gladys Berejiklian extending lockdown measures in the regions.
The premier said all of NSW would remain under stay-at-home orders until at least August 28 after announcing 48 more cases than the previous day's record tally - and another death.
Director general of health Ashley Bloomfield expects over 1,000 people to be contacted after authorities categorise 362 individuals as close contacts of Covid-19 infections
