New Zealand has 49 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today - all in Auckland

It brings our total cases this outbreak to 725, 709 in Auckland, and 16 in Wellington.

Of yesterday's 75 cases, 85-percent were contacts of known cases.

36-percent were considered to be infectious in the community.

We have 42 people with Covid-19 in hospital, six in ICU, and three being ventilated.

More than 37-thousand people have been identified as contacts.

96-percent of contacts in Northland have returned tests - all negative.

Dr Ashley Bloomfield says there needs to be more testing across Auckland to have confidence if the outbreak is under control.

He wants essential workers crossing the boundary between Alert Level 3 and 4 to get a test in the next three to four days, whether they have symptoms or not.

Jacinda Ardern has confirmed Northland will move to Alert Level 3 at midnight tonight.