New Zealand Covid update: cases drop to 49 in ‘reassuring indication’ lockdown is working

Director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said virus' reproduction rate remained under one, meaning cases would continue to drop

New cases of Covid-19 have continued to drop in New Zealand, in a promising early indication that the country's strict lockdown is working and its latest outbreak may be coming under control.

The country announced 49 new cases on Tuesday - dropping for the second day in a row, down from 53 cases on Monday and 83 on Sunday. It is the lowest number of new cases reported in the country in six days.