Covid: New Zealand reports jump in cases as opposition calls for opening up

45 new positives in a day as National party lays out coronavirus plan for vigorous suppression' instead of elimination

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New Zealand's daily Covid cases have jumped sharply to 45 - more than five times the previous day's number. The rise comes after several days of about 12 cases a day, and around a week after the Auckland region lifted its strictest lockdown restrictions.

This is a big number. It's a sobering number. I don't think anybody who's involved in this process would be celebrating a number like the one we're seeing today," said the Covid-19 response minister, Chris Hipkins.