Today there are 21 new cases of Covid-19 bringing the total to 72 cases.

20 are in Auckland and one is in Wellington, which was already reported yesterday.

Dr Ashley Bloomfield said “there is a significant increase of contacts, more than 8800, almost all are considered close contacts. Individual contacts had been formally identified and we expect that will continue to increase through the day.”

“4124 have already been formally followed up and a self-isolating and a third have already returned a test.

Work is underway to contact the remaining contacts and most of these were identified yesterday as a result of recent high exposure large events.

“Locations of interest will be published every two hours if there is a significant or urgent location of interest that will be published immediately.

Several of the new cases are connected to the Samoan Assembly of God in Māngere.

People who were there from 9am -3pm on August 15 are asked to isolate for 14 days and be tested immediately.