Another death has been added to the Covid-19 toll for New Zealand, despite the fact the woman, who was in her 90s, did not actually have the virus when she died.
There are now just eight active cases - all of them in Auckland.
At a media conference in Wellington this afternoon, the Director General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield announced there were no new cases of Covid-19 for the sixth day in a row.
He said Eileen Hunter, a resident of St Margaret's rest home in Te Atatu, was diagnosed with Covid-19 in mid April and transferred to Waitakere Hospital and then North Shore, before being discharged back to St Margaret's after two negative tests. She died on Sunday.
Despite nearly a week of zero new cases, New Zealanders are still facing another four weeks of level 2 restrictions.
Dr Bloomfield said the World Health Organisation's advice is that countries must proceed carefully with relaxing restrictions because there's always the risk of a second wave of infections.
Australia has recorded over 100 new cases of Covid-19 in the last two weeks. Dr Bloomfield said before opening up the border with Australia, health authorities will want to be sure there is no community transmission and that any risks can be managed.
Eliminating the virus from New Zealand is key but eradication is out of our hands. Vaccination is the world's best hope to completely wipe out Covid 19.
Dr Bloomfield was asked whether the Health Ministry would advocate making vaccination against Covid-19 compulsory when one is finally available.
He replied he doesn't envisage force would be necessary because most New Zealanders will want to do what they can to protect themselves, their families and the wider community.
Dr Bloomfield urged New Zealanders to keep up the good work and stay safe going into the long weekend.
