Covid-19: No active cases in Canty, elderly woman NZ's 22nd death

Canterbury now has no active cases of Covid-19.

All of the 152 cases in the Canterbury District Health Board area have now recovered from the virus. There was also a total of 12 deaths in the region. 

South Canterbury also has no cases, with 17 people now recovered and no deaths.

Meanwhile, an elderly woman who died at St Margaret's rest home in Auckland last week is New Zealand's 22nd Covid-19 death.

A death notice for Eileen Hunter, 96, said the rest home resident died "due to Covid-19" on May 24.

Hunter's family believe she contracted the deadly virus during an outbreak that infected staff and patients, but before today her death had not been recorded in the Ministry of Health's official Covid-19 death statistics.

In the 1pm media briefing today Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said Hunter's death would now be treated as being related to Covid-19.

Hunter had been confirmed as having Covid-19 in April and recovered in hospital and had two negative test results since then, he said.

Dr Bloomfield also announced that there are no new Covid-19 cases today.

It is the sixth day in a row since a new case has been recorded, a record since the start of the pandemic.

The total tally of confirmed and probable cases stands at 1504.

Dr Bloomfield encouraged Kiwis to continue their exercise habits developed during lockdown and urged people to "continue active transport when they can".

"This could include walking or cycling if you have a short trip to work, to school, or the shops.

"You can expect to see councils providing more space for people walking and cycling, with temporary bike lanes and so. This is important because as traffic returns people need to feel safe continuing to cycle and walk in towns and cities," he said.

Total cases by DHB

As at 9.00 am, 28 May 2020

Total cases by DHB in hospital

There are currently no patients in hospital with COVID-19.