The number of Covid-19 cases in the Southern District Health Board area has risen to 59, making it the region with the most cases per head of population in the country. The region is second behind the Auckland DHB in total cases, but covers a significantly lower population. The national total is made up of 78 new confirmed cases and five probable cases, Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management Sarah Stuart-Black said. Photo: Christine O'ConnorThe SDHB area includes roughly 6.7% of New Zealand's population, but has about 13.1% of the total number of Covid-19 cases. A joint statement from Ministry of Health, Southern District Health Board and Canterbury District Health Board said 840 close contacts linked to the conference have been identified, 583 of whom have been tracked.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 28, 2020 02:28 UTC