Welcome to the live update of The Spinoff by Stewart Sowman-Lund on November 1st. Help support our Covid report-join the membership now.

Tonga will enter a lockdown at midnight tonight until at least Sunday. On Friday, the Kingdom of Tonga confirmed its first Covid case, a person who returned to the country on a repatriation flight from Christchurch. More than 200 people who arrived on the same flight are now in administrative quarantine.

The complete vaccination rate has jumped from 35% before the announcement of the first case to more than 62% today. This will be the country's first nationwide lockdown in its history, and nearly two years have passed without any new coronavirus.

National leader Judith Collins said that the government's plan to further relax the Covid-19 restrictions in Auckland was "confusing and illogical."

"If the business is not at risk now, why can't it open last week? Why do they have to wait another week? Why do Oaklanders have to wait for the second step of the three-level alert to take effect?" Collins said in a press release.

"What makes things even more confusing is that next Wednesday retail stores will obviously be open to everyone in Auckland, and then at the end of November, the traffic light system will be activated and people who have not been vaccinated will face restrictions. How will this work? Zero meaning ."

Collins criticized the unclear when the vaccine certificate will be ready. The government only started to study them in July. If they are ready now, Aucklanders who are vaccinated can have greater freedom and even leave Auckland prisons. The fact that they are not prepared is a shame to the government and a symbol that the government has not done a good job at all. "

Siouxsie Wiles said she was “very nervous” about the second step of the third-level alert exit plan in Auckland next week.

"The number of cases is still increasing," said the University of Auckland professor. "Although we are sure that this will not overwhelm our health system, we need to remember that Covid-19 is a serious disease, and many unvaccinated people will be infected with the virus. Developed into a long-term Covid.

"We must also remember that some people in our community have been vaccinated safely, but have not developed a good immune response, so they are still vulnerable to illness."

Modeler Michael Plank also expressed concern, saying that although the high vaccination rate “to a certain extent” justifies the higher tolerance of Covid-19 cases, because it It reduces the risk of serious illness and hospitalization, "but we cannot afford to forget the case completely."

"Vaccination weakens the link between cases, hospitalizations and deaths, but it does not completely eliminate it. If the number of cases increases too high, it will lead to a large number of people requiring hospitalization. High-incidence cases have other consequences, including primary The stress of health care, the long-term impact of Covid on health, and the interference of diseases in schools and workplaces."

Planck also said that risks need to be viewed from a "stock perspective." "Maori now account for 40-50% of cases in the current epidemic and will bear the brunt of the increased community transmission."

He also said that easing restrictions may push up the R number, and if the contact tracing system is unable to meet demand, cases may accelerate. "If there are signs that this is happening, you may need to reconsider the second step you plan to take next week."

Immunologist Dianne Sika-Paotonu also emphasized the ability of contact tracing, noting that Roche’s report released earlier this year “concluded that it would be difficult for New Zealand to maintain a high system performance of contact tracing for a long time, 100 per day. -200 cases".

Sika-Paotonu said that although the 75% (New Zealand) and 80% (Auckland) vaccination milestones highlighted today are important, the same is true for the Māori and Pacific communities that bear the brunt of the Covid outbreak. "In order to ensure that no one is left behind, the district health bureau needs to ensure that Maori and Pacific Islanders are vaccinated at least 90-95%."

Confused about the exact content announced at 4pm? This is understandable, so deputy editor Alice Neville prepared a convenient interpreter to explain where parts of Waikato and all areas of Auckland will move to at midnight and a week later, respectively.

All in all: Public places such as shops and libraries will be open, and outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people can be held (no restriction on bubble mixing). Read the full text here.

"Cath Tizard is a very important person in my life," Helen Clark said this afternoon in a tribute to Mrs. Catherine Tizard, the former Governor and Mayor of Oakland, who died last night at the age of 90. "We first met in 1971, when she was campaigning for and then elected to the Auckland City Council. Cath went on to serve four terms on the Council, and to be elected as Mayor of Auckland City three times."

Clark said that Tizard "enjoys the respect of all political parties." "Cath's voice has always been a progressive voice in terms of human rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Many young women of my generation have seen her success in public life and know that the door can also be opened for us. We admire her for her frankness and forthrightness-no one will leave the conversation and want to know what Case thinks of the issues discussed."

She added: “On a personal level, Case has been a good friend of many people. She has maintained the loyalty and friendship of the former Governor’s House and parliament staff throughout her life. Due to Case’s poor health in recent years, she has received The love of the children. Now my heart is with Annie, Linda, Judith, Nigel, and all the descendants of Case; her departure has left a huge gap in their lives. Cath is one Great New Zealander, everyone who knows her will miss her very much."

The Mass Rapid Transit connecting the Wellington Central Business District with the Bay of Islands, the airport and the eastern suburbs will become the cornerstone of the four plans to "renovate" Wellington's transportation system.

According to the New Zealand Herald, Let's Get Wellington Moving announced its proposal before the six weeks of negotiations that began on Tuesday.

Mass Rapid Transit is at the center of all options, with light rail or electric buses transporting people along routes to the east and south of the city, saving up to 12 minutes of travel time by 2050 and building up to 21,000 houses. The light rail to Island Bay is three of the four suggestions, including express buses to the airport, Miramar and Seatoun.

The proposed improvements include removing the basin reserve as a roundabout and extending the Arras Tunnel to allow traffic to move around the area. The provision of an additional Mount Victoria tunnel for walkers and cyclists is a feature of all four options, and it is proposed to refurbish the existing tunnel.

The cheapest option is estimated to cost US$5.8 billion in 30 years, and the most expensive option is US$7.4 billion. Construction will take eight to fifteen years to complete.

"Our goal is to build a world-class capital that prides itself on beautiful and safe streets so that new housing and businesses will flourish," said David Dunlop, director of Let's Get Wellington Moving performance program. "We don't need to use our cars often, so we can reduce our carbon emissions. This is about building a better future for the cities and regions we love."

With the mission of improving the capital's transportation system, Let's Get Moving Wellington is a joint initiative between the City of Wellington and the regional council and the government transportation agency Waka Kotahi.

We have not considered the three steps of the three-level alert exit path for some time. Before we use the new traffic light system, parts of Auckland and Waikato have been able to slowly reopen.

The following is a brief summary of the second step rules:

Auckland will enter the second phase of the three-level alert path starting at 11:59 pm next Tuesday, November 9. The Waikato area, currently under lockdown, will implement the same restrictions sooner-starting at 11:59 tomorrow night.

At a press conference at 4 pm today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated that vaccines mean that we can continue to achieve the same goals as during the eradication period-to protect people from Covid-19. "There will be an increase in cases, and we expect this to happen," Ardern said. "This doesn't mean that the restrictions didn't work — they worked. It doesn't mean that these additional cases will have the same impact on our health system or people's health as it did at the beginning of the outbreak."

Ardern said that as vaccination rates increase, our risk assessment of cases may change. "We are very aware that the number of cases per day does not tell you how well our overall performance is. This information is very important when it comes to the decision we have to make about the next step," Ardern said.

"We are now in a transitional period, which is very difficult. There is a lot of new information and a lot of changes. All of this is happening and, frankly, everyone is tired of Covid."

Ardern said today's decision was "cautiously balanced", allowing some of the stress and fatigue in Oakland to be relieved while continuing to vaccinate. "Our current border gives us time, but we cannot control (the virus) forever," Ardern said. "We have seen cases appear, and even if the tightening is further, we may see them in the future. We will continue to work hard to eliminate these cases, but I don’t want anyone to believe that we can keep Covid in one place and only keep it in a place."

Although Auckland's Covid cases are considering a significant increase, Ashley Bloomfield points to our steady hospitalization rate and growing vaccination rate.

The Director-General of Health revealed a new model related to our ongoing Covid-19 response. Bloomfield said: "The current number is worrying because we are seeing an increasing proportion of Maori in the current cases." Since the beginning of the outbreak, the number of cases in Pacific island countries has declined.

Bloomfield said that reaching 75% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated, and reaching 80% in Auckland is an "important milestone." The nationwide figure should reach 80% next week. "If these vaccination rates have not increased, you can see what will happen to these cases," Bloomfield said.

The positive rate increased slightly-up to 0.6%. However, Bloomfield stated that the maximum was 4% in September, and the World Health Organization stated that the target was less than 3%.

Bloomfield said: "As you can see in every country, as the vaccination rate increases, more and more people will be fully vaccinated, but the vaccination provides protection against cases or hospitalizations. The vaccine is indeed still very high."

In this week’s "Breast Assured" episode, it’s time to get in touch with our breasts. Professional breast care nurse Judith Beattie and host Sarah Gandy helped us learn how to do self-examination-what to do, when to do it, and how often. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast provider.

Jacinda Ardern will reveal whether the three-level alarm restrictions in Auckland and/or parts of Waikato will be relaxed. Currently, both are in the first step of a three-phase exit path. In the second step, the retail industry can be reopened, and gatherings can be extended to the outdoors.

The Prime Minister will be joined by Ashley Bloomfield, Director of Health, and a new model is also expected to be announced to show when the community delta outbreak may reach its peak.

Watch below or follow our live report from 4pm.

Today, the North Island has added 162 new records of Covid-19 infection. This is slightly higher than the previous record of 160 recorded on Saturday, and, as shown in the figure below, much higher than any day during the delta outbreak.

We will find out at 4 pm when the latest model shows when we might reach the peak of new cases in the community.

See more of these charts on The Spinoff's Covid Tracker page here.

A 36-year-old man was arrested for participating in anti-blockade protests and marches in Auckland over the weekend.

The man will appear in court tomorrow on three counts of non-compliance with Covid-19 health orders. The police said that further charges would not be ruled out.

This new arrest occurred before the charges against Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki and others, and these incidents were also held in the Oakland area. During the Level 3 alert in Auckland, the number of outdoor gatherings is limited to 10 people and no more than two bubbles.

The latest news from the Ministry of Health today confirms that 75% of the eligible population is now fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Yesterday, Sunday's vaccination numbers are usually low. Nationwide, only 20,176 doses were administered, including 4,867 doses of the first dose and 15,303 doses of the second dose.

Once each DHB (except Auckland) reaches 90% of the dose doubled, the new traffic light system will be activated. Auckland is expected to migrate to the new system sooner, and now 81% of the eligible population has fully accepted it.

What is the situation in your area? This is the latest number of vaccines, chart

Check out more gorgeous charts on The Spinoff's Covid Tracker page here

Three staff members in the Covid-19 Ward of Auckland North Shore Hospital tested positive for Covid-19.

The hospital is currently treating 15 Covid-positive patients, including two residents of Edmonton Meadows Care Home.

According to Stuff, the source of the spread in the hospital is not yet known, but further testing did not reveal any additional cases.

All staff in the ward have been fully vaccinated, wear personal protective equipment, and undergo regular monitoring tests and health checks before each shift.

There are 162 new community cases of Covid-19-the highest number of cases per day since the pandemic two years ago. Of these, 156 are in Auckland, 5 in Waikato, and 1 in Northland.

So far, there are still 92 cases not related to the main delta outbreak, while yesterday's 33 cases were considered infectious in the community.

There are now 53 people in hospital due to Covid-19, 3 of whom are in the intensive care unit. The average age of Covid-related hospitalization is now 47.

Among the new cases today is a staff member of Edmonton Meadows Nursing Home in Henderson, west of Auckland. There are now two Covid-positive workers and eight residents, bringing the total number associated with the house to 10.

Covid detection in Auckland remains the key to several suburbs: Redvale, Rosedale, New Lynn, Wiri, Drury, Henderson and Manurewa. Anyone with symptoms, even if the symptoms are mild, even if vaccinated, needs to be tested. In Auckland, there are currently 1,115 people isolated at home, including 564 confirmed cases.

There are five new cases in Waikato today. Among them, one is in Ngāruawāhia, two are in Ōtorohanga, and one is in Hamilton. The fifth is the Ōtorohanga case announced yesterday, which occurred after the Ministry’s daily reporting time ended. "This case is still under investigation to determine any links with existing cases," the ministry said.

Three of the other five cases today are known contacts who have been quarantined, and the remaining cases are now also related to existing cases.

After Huntly reported an accidental Covid-19 wastewater test yesterday, starting at 10 o'clock this morning, both Huntly East and Huntly West have pop-up testing centers.

One new case was confirmed in the northern region, bringing the epidemic situation in the region to 13 cases. The Ministry of Health has not yet stated whether today’s new cases are related to the epidemic.

Finally, there are no new cases confirmed in the South Island today. However, Covid-19 was detected in two new wastewater samples in the south and east of Christchurch on Friday. "One of the samples is likely to be the result of a known case living in a catchment area," the ministry said. "An investigation is ongoing to determine any links to the known cases of the second sample, including any recovered cases who have recently left MIQ." More samples are being collected and results are expected later this week.

Have you considered joining spin-off members? Our continued coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic depends on the support of our members. Without them, I would probably not be here, hurriedly refreshing my inbox, waiting for today's numbers to drop.

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You are not crazy! It was actually 1.13 pm, and those annoying Covid figures that expire at 1 pm have not yet been released. I will take them as soon as they land.

At the same time, Michael Morrah of Newshub claimed that the number of infected people in Auckland will set a new record today, with more than 150 people in this super city alone. We will get all the details as soon as possible.

Today there are more than 150 new cases in Auckland alone. @NewshubNZ #COVID19

Starting this week, we will see fewer Covid-19 press conferences.

They are now only held on Wednesday and Friday, while the Prime Minister's regular cabinet meeting is held at 4 pm on Monday. The Ministry of Health’s written statement will continue to be issued every day, including days when press conferences will not be held.

Since the pandemic began, 1pm has not been cancelled for the first time. However, this is the first time this happens when we are in an outbreak. In New South Wales, former Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian (Gladys Berejiklian) was criticized for canceling daily press conferences during the delta outbreak in the state.

Act's David Seymour shared on Twitter his disappointment with Ardern's actions following his comment this morning. The prime minister stated that she was unable to visit Auckland during the three-level alert period, partly because of her media schedule.

Jacinda Ardern said that she cannot visit Auckland because she needs to do media in Wellington... although she has much less media now. https://t.co/5oL1GENxsf

The New Zealand Comedy Trust today announced five Billy T nominees for 2022. They are arranged in alphabetical order: Abby Howells, Gabby Anderson, Jack Ansett, Janaye Henry and Maria Williams.

The five nominees were selected from 17 emerging comedians who introduced the concept of the New Zealand Comedy Festival in 2022 to a panel of industry experts in digital format. They were selected because of their comedic abilities, dedication to craftsmanship, current form and outstanding potential.

The Billy T Award, New Zealand's most prestigious emerging comedian award, has been held for 25 years. The current holder of the award is Brynley Stent (currently in Celebrity Treasure Island), and in recent years the award has been awarded to Kura Forrester, David Correos and Angella Dravid. Stent will host Billy T Jams at the Q Theater on February 25th, where these nominees will be showcased.

From connecting via dial-up to sending emails, to social networks, to the upcoming metaverse-the web has changed a lot in the past 25 years. The shit team you should care about check out this week's extreme online episodes.

The mayor of Ōtorohanga reported two other Covid-19 cases in the town.

Max Baxter told Stuff that the pair of new delta cases are interrelated and are already in isolation. "Hope it can be controlled," Baxter said.

The new cases are expected to be confirmed in the Ministry of Health’s 1 pm update, but Baxter said that locals hope to get the information as soon as it becomes available. “We missed the opportunity to let people take care of themselves because the information was not released until 12 hours later,” he said.

So far, Waikato has confirmed 118 cases of Delta, but now 35 cases have recovered.

Shaun Hendy’s Covid model helped the government respond to the pandemic, and he once again called for Oakland’s four-level alert to be placed on the table.

After setting a record of 160 cases over the weekend, the number of daily cases is expected to continue to rise.

In an interview with TVNZ for breakfast, Hendy said that although officials have ruled out this possibility in recent weeks, the use of circuit breakers should still be considered. He said: "We expect the number to continue to rise in a few weeks-it may level off between 200 and 300 per day-because the effects of vaccination really start to take effect."

He said: "What is worrying at the moment is that we have seen so many unrelated cases that our contact trackers really can't keep up with the brink of this outbreak."

Hendy claims that the rapid four-level lockdown can "reduce the number of cases and really put our contact tracker back into the game."

The next alert level update will be released at 4 pm today.

The Prime Minister has been visiting Auckland under pressure from the opposition to truly understand what the super city is going through during the blockade.

Judith Collins and David Seymour have been in the city in recent days, and the latter said he "has never seen Auckland like this before."

In an interview with RNZ, Jacinda Ardern stated that she would not travel to Auckland, but retorted that she did not understand how the city feels.

"I'm always thinking about how to bring Oakland back to life safely," Ardern said. "Unfortunately, if I travel to Auckland, I will not be able to return to Parliament for five days. It does affect my responsibilities in the debate room [and] my ability in front of the media."

Ardern denied that she did not understand what Oakland was going through during the lockdown. "Auckland is my home. This is where all my personal relationships are," Ardern said. "This is where my family lives. My friends and colleagues live near the cabinet table. I think you can't really appreciate it if you don't stay there for a whole period of time."

According to the rules set by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Trevor Mallard (Trevor Mallard), all members of parliament who travel from the tertiary area to the parliament are required to self-isolate for five days and test negative for Covid-19.

This is Oakland's decision day. A few weeks after the current restrictions, the super city is waiting to hear whether it can enter the second step of the three-level alert exit path. In the second step, retail can be opened up and outdoor gatherings can be expanded. However, indoor gatherings are still prohibited.

PM Jacinda Ardern will announce any changes in the alert level at 4 pm, and she told RNZ that no decision has been made yet. She said that the cabinet will meet today to discuss the latest Covid figures.

"One of the things we have to do is to share some of the things we see in the model," Ardern said. The number of cases may reach a peak of about 200 cases per day in November. "Although we are in a period of waiting and watching," Ardern said. "I don't rule out any decision that the Cabinet may or may not make today."

Ardern told Newshub that she expects cases to peak "soon" after recording more than 300 new infections over the weekend.

New Zealand's first female Governor-General, Dame Catherine Tizard, died yesterday at the age of 90.

Dame Catherine was also the first woman to be elected mayor of Auckland back in 1983.

In a statement, Mrs. Catherine's family called her a vibrant, intelligent and warm woman. "She has a long and distinguished life in public service. She is a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother; and a confidant, mentor and friend of more people. We will miss her more than ever."

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that Mrs. Catherine was a "pioneer" for women in public office. "In everything she did, she demonstrated her outstanding leadership skills and determination, combined with a down-to-earth approach and an uncontrollable sense of humor," Ardern said.

Two schools in Oakland closed their doors after the Covid-19 panic just a week after being allowed to reopen.

In an email seen by The Spinoff, Mount Albert Grammar confirmed that one of its students had tested positive for the virus. The student attended class from Tuesday to Thursday last week.

The school will undergo a deep cleaning, and senior students will resume online learning.

At the same time, Macleans College in East Oakland will also be closed today after a support staff was infected. In a message on the school’s website, it was confirmed that the staff member had not been in contact with any students.

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