Keeping New Zealand at COVID-19 alert level 2 will make it easier to trace and contain any outbreaks which could occur, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
On Friday, Ardern confirmed the country will remain restricted until September 14 to slow the spread of the virus. Auckland will stay at what's been dubbed alert level 2.5 with social gatherings limited to 10 people.
She says the decision was made using the same criteria the Cabinet has relied on throughout the pandemic - is the virus cluster contained, are New Zealanders complying with the rules, and have the economic impacts been considered?
Since Auckland entered level 2.5 there have not been any cases outside of the original cluster - but there had been a case just prior to the shift that had not yet been linked person-to-person, although testing revealed it was genomically linked.
However without a clear transmission, Ardern says there's reason to proceed carefully.
"There could be other people we are missing - that has happened to us before and it doesn't mean we cannot contain the outbreak around them successfully, but it does give us reason to be careful and cautious."
The economy has taken a hit, but there are promising signs - 188,000 jobs have been protected by the wage subsidy and 15000 people have now gotten off the COVID job-seeker payment and back into employment.
If the virus is contained successfully, the economic results will be even better.
"We consider the best economic response remains a strong health response,"Ardern told reporters on Friday.
"If we get it right we shake off restrictions faster and lessen the risk of bouncing around."
Five new cases were announced on Friday - two of which are in managed isolation facilities. The three community cases were all linked to the original cluster.
Ardern had a plea for Aucklanders preparing to go out and socialise over the weekend however, saying it's too early for them to let their guard down.
"Keep your gatherings small, use the COVID Tracer app and keep to the guidelines if you're leaving Auckland." she said.
And most importantly - "if you're unwell, don't travel at all".
