Just over one hundred days since the most recent case of COVID-19 in New Zealand recovered, four new cases of the virus have been confirmed in the community.

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern and director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield called an emergency media conference tonight (Tuesday August 11) where they revealed the discovery of the new cases in Auckland. 

The first new case of community transmission was a man in his fifties who lives in South Auckland. He was tested after visiting his GP and presenting symptoms.

“We’ve sprung into action and... all those family members residing in the same household, there were another six, were all tested and three of the six have returned positive test results,” Ashley said. “The other three were negative.”

As a result of the new cases, the PM said from midday tomorrow (Wednesday August 12) Aucklanders will be expected to stay home under alert level three restrictions for the next three days as the source of the new cases is sought. The rest of New Zealand will move to alert level two for three days. 

The source of the new cases is unknown: “There is no immediate link we have found as yet to a managed isolation facility we are aware of and there is not yet any known connection to any high risk individual such as those who work at our border,” the PM said. 

New Zealand’s resurgence plan is being activated while the extent of the current outbreak and the source of the existing cases is investigated, Ashley said.

“It is likely we will see other cases...” Jacinda said.

Aucklanders are being asked not to leave the city over the next three days and people who do not reside there are asked not to visit. 

For the rest of the country, alert level two restrictions (more information here) will be reinstated. 

“The important thing now is we stop the spread of the virus in our community,” Ashley said.

“We have done this before and we can and will do it again”.

PHOTOS: Supplied