The latest in our series of charts, graphics and data visualisations by Chris McDowall. David Garcia helped create today’s charts.

This work is entirely funded by the generosity of The Spinoff Members

These posts collate the most recent statistics and present them as charts and maps. The Ministry of Health typically publishes data updates in the early afternoon, which describe the situation at 9am on the day of release. These data visualisations are interactive – use your mouse or thumb to hover over each graph for more detail.

Note for users of The Spinoff app: if the charts below are not appearing, please update your app to the latest version.

This afternoon’s Ministry of Health figures report that the total number of confirmed and probable Covid-19 cases stands at 1,401 (1,084 confirmed and 317 probable). A total of 770 people have recovered, an increase of 42 since yesterday. There were six new confirmed cases reported in the last 24 hours and nine new probable cases. No further deaths have been reported.

The number of significant clusters with 10 or more cases remains at 16. There are 12 people in hospital which is one fewer than yesterday. There are now three people in intensive care units – one each at Middlemore, Dunedin and North Shore hospitals. The Dunedin and North Shore patients are in a critical condition.

Yesterday, 3,661 tests were processed. The ministry reported averaging 2,714 Covid-19 lab tests per day during the week ending April 15 – an average pulled down by relatively low testing during the Easter period. A total of 70,160 lab tests have been conducted since January 22. There are 70,826 test supplies in stock, down from 69,758 yesterday.

This chart compares active and recovered cases. Active cases are confirmed or probable cases of Covid-19 where the person has neither recovered nor died. Recovered cases are people who were once an active case, but are at least 10 days since onset and have not exhibited any symptoms for 48 hours.

For the second day, Ministry of Health statistics show more recovered than active cases. The number of active cases dropped again, from 770 to 622 this morning. The overall downward trend of active case counts that started around April 8 continues.

The Ministry of Health released counts of active, recovered and deceased cases by district health board this afternoon. This table summarises that data, showing how the different types of case are distributed across regions. Note the difference that a geographic lens places on the situation. Bucking the national trend, there are several DHBs where the number of active cases is greater than the count of recovered people. See, for example, Waikato (106 active, 76 recovered), Waitamatā (105 active, 100 recovered), Hawke’s Bay (26 active, 15 recovered) and Northland (18 active, 8 recovered).

The symbol map shows confirmed and probable Covid-19 cases arranged by district health board. In keeping with the relatively small number of new cases, there is minimal change in regional counts. Southern (213), Waitematā (205), Auckland (184) and Waikato (182) remain the four district health boards with the largest number of active cases. The largest increase in cases was in Waitematā (up four to 205).

There are 16 significant clusters under investigation by the Ministry of Health, the same as yesterday. The largest increases were due to cases getting associated with the Bluff wedding (up three to 92 cases) and one of the aged residential care facilities in Auckland (also up three to 18 cases).

I haven’t included this chart since my first day of making these summaries on March 30. That feels like a lifetime ago, but apparently it was just two weeks. There were 455 confirmed and probable cases at the time. Recent overseas travel made up 57% of these cases, compared with 39% today. Contact with a known case was 26% of cases, compared with 39% today. Fifteen percent of cases were under investigation, which has been reduced to 4% today. Confirmed community transmission comprised 2% of cases on both dates.

This chart shows cases according to their original “date of report” rather than the “date the case was classified as confirmed/probable”. This is a subtle but important distinction as there is sometimes a lag between a “potential” case getting updated to “probable” or “confirmed”, yet the date of report stays the same.

The same broad trend that we see in the other charts is evident here. There is a downward trend in the number of cases. Even with a few potential cases getting upgraded to probable or confirmed in recent days, these numbers look promising.

Note that the number of cases reported on a particular date may not match the number of cases reported in the last 24 hours. This is because the number of confirmed and probable cases reported in the last 24 hours includes cases which were entered on an earlier date as “under investigation” or “suspected” whose status has now been changed to confirmed or probable.

The government has just unveiled more detail about what life will be like for New Zealanders under level three restrictions. What will it mean for schools, business and day-to-day life? 

The first point – we still don’t know when we’ll move to level three.

That has not been announced today, and an update won’t be given until Monday. When the level four lockdown was initially announced, it was for a four-week term – so would theoretically be ending on April 23. But it could still be extended further if the government sees the need for longer measures to control Covid-19. If the announcement on Monday signals that we will move to level three, it will give everyone two days to prepare.

There has been a hint. PM Ardern said in today’s briefing that the signs were “promising”, and said that we are now in the rare position of being able to make decisions for the future. However, she also said today’s discussion “in no way foreshadows” the decision that will be announced on Monday. There was also a signal that moves between levels would be taken cautiously, so as to “not give away the gains” made so far.

What are the general principles of level three?

The goal remains to “restrict” contact with each other, said Ardern, describing it as a “waiting room, to see if it has worked”. She said alert level two would be much closer to normal life as we understand it, and at level three the message would continue to be that people should stay home. “At level three we’ll be cautiously opening up our economy, albeit with mitigations in place,” said Ardern. It is a progression of steps, rather than a rush, in an attempt to get to a place of safety before full reopening takes place.

If we do move to level three, will schools reopen?

Not immediately. The earliest possible date given so far for schools to reopen is April 29, and that is contingent on a lot of things going right. Attendance would be voluntary, and children who are able to stay home will still be encouraged to. It will also only apply up to and including year 10.

Will businesses be able to open again?

Some will, but only if they can demonstrate that they can do so safely, with physical distancing protocols in place. The move from “essential only” to “safe only” is the key point.

That means that industries like construction, forestry, and work inside people’s homes will be able to continue, provided those workplaces use proper health and safety practices.

Some businesses will not be able to open. That includes public-facing bars, cafes and restaurants, malls and retail stores. However, food delivery will be allowed. “The key principle here is simple – you cannot engage in face-to-face transactions,” said Ardern. All businesses will need to make a health and safety plan, and make that visible at worksites if they intend to open again.

For those who work at jobs that are normally in offices, expect to continue working from home for the foreseeable future. “Alternative ways of working” are still required at level three, so don’t feel the need to save your good jokes up for the water-cooler, use them now on the company Slack.

Will Anzac Day ceremonies go ahead on the April 25?

No. Regardless of what happens in Monday’s announcement, there won’t be any sort of mass gatherings for the foreseeable future. The public holiday that comes with Anzac Day will still be Mondayised though, so you’ll get a day off.

What about other recreational and public facilities?

There will be a loosening of the rules around going to the beach or the park, but places like public libraries, gyms and movie theatres will still be shut. There will also still be rules against recreational trips to different regions – you still won’t be able to drive to the Coromandel from Auckland, for example. You could instead go to Piha.

But if you do go to the beach, the message is to avoid anything risky or motorised, because it might break down and you’ll need to be rescued. An example of that given by Ardern was using a jet-ski, which would not be allowed at level three. “You can swim, you can surf, you can fish from the shore,” she said, “but now is not the time to take up a new activity that you have not done before.” She also said rules against congregating would remain – “don’t treat it as a reunion with your long-lost swimming buddies”.

Will the rules on personal bubbles be relaxed? 

People are allowed to expand their bubble “a small amount” at level three, for example by bringing in an extra family member for caregiving, provided bubbles stay exclusive. However, this will not be a time to reunite with friends, said Ardern, and in general terms people are being told to stay in their bubbles.

What about weddings and funerals? 

They will be allowed to go ahead, but for funerals there will be a 10-person limit. For weddings, the rules will only allow ceremonies, rather than receptions or dinners that would previously have gone with it.

What about the health system generally?

More guidance will be coming out on that “in the next 48 hours”, said the PM. Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said primary care, dental care and physios will be allowed, but in principle people should be doing that remotely as much as possible.

Any other general principles?

Ardern said you should continue acting like you, and those around you, have Covid-19. She also asked that people maintain details about where they have been, and who they have seen, to make the job of contact tracing easier if necessary.

ALERT LEVEL THREE IN SUM

From the official government guidance:

• People instructed to stay home in their bubble other than for essential personal movement – including to go to work, school if they have to or for local recreation.

• Physical distancing of two metres outside home (including on public transport), or one metre in controlled environments like schools and workplaces.

• People must stay within their immediate household bubble, but can expand this to reconnect with close family / whānau, or bring in caregivers, or support isolated people. This extended bubble should remain exclusive.

• Schools (years 1 to 10) and early childhood education centres can safely open, but will have limited capacity. Children should learn at home if possible.

• People must work from home unless that is not possible.

• Businesses can open premises, but cannot physically interact with customers.

• Low-risk local recreation activities are allowed.

• Public venues are closed (eg libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, playgrounds, markets).

• Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed but only for wedding services, funerals and tangihanga. Physical distancing and public health measures must be maintained.

• Healthcare services use virtual, non-contact consultations where possible.

• Inter-regional travel is highly limited (e.g. for essential workers, with limited exemptions for others).

• People at high risk of severe illness (older people and those with existing medical conditions) are encouraged to stay at home where possible, and take additional precautions when leaving home. They may choose to work.