The Southern district has had no new cases of COVID-19 for two weeks. 

There are nine active cases in the region, 205 people have recovered from the virus, and two people have died.

The Ministry of Health has announced there are two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 to report and four new probable cases today (Saturday May 2).

Five of today’s cases can be traced to a known source. One case is still being investigated.

The total of confirmed and probable cases is 1,485.

New Zealand’s total number of confirmed cases is 1,134. This is the number reported to the World Health Organisation (and in many instances this is the number reported publicly by other countries).

There were 5,691 tests completed yesterday, with a combined total to date of 145,589.

Of New Zealand’s total cases, 1,263 are reported as recovered – an increase of 11 on yesterday. Eighty-five per cent of all confirmed and probable cases have now recovered.

There are five people in hospital, none in ICU.

Sadly, today the Ministry reported the death of a resident of Rosewood Rest Home who was transferred to Burwood Hospital.

George Hollings was in his 80s, and his family asked the Ministry to share his name and some information about him as he had a lot of friends for whom the family don’t have contact details.

His family said George will be remembered as a real Kiwi bloke, a rough diamond, who loved his deer stalking. They said the staff who cared for George did an exemplary job. “We can’t speak highly enough of the care Dad received. You’ve clearly chosen the best, most compassionate staff to work at Burwood”.

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George was considered to be a probable case of COVID-19, and he also had underlying health conditions. He passed away early this morning.

There have now been 20 deaths from COVID-19 in New Zealand.

There are still 16 significant clusters, no change from yesterday.  

Three clusters are now considered closed as there is no longer transmission of the virus associated with the cluster. A cluster is considered closed after a total of 28 consecutive days – or two incubation periods for the virus – since its most recently reported case.

The three closed clusters are the Wellington wedding cluster (closed 25 April) and the two clusters linked with group travel to the United States – one in Wellington and the other in Auckland – closed today.