New Zealand preps to ease restrictions in Auckland

New Zealand reported a total of 12 new coronavirus cases Friday, as the nation readies to ease restrictions in the city of Auckland in the next coming days.

The country's Director of Public Health, Caroline McElnay, said five of the cases were from community transmission and were traceable to known cases or clusters while seven of the cases were imported from overseas.

She added the overseas cases arrived on the same flight last week and were transported to a quarantine facility.

New Zealand's Finance Minister Grant Robertson thanked the people of Auckland for their commitment to stopping the spread of the virus.

As a result of record testing numbers and people staying home, Auckland prepares to move to Alert Level 2, Robertson said.

"Despite dealing with our largest cluster ever we are able to move down that level because of the commitment shown by Aucklanders to fighting the virus' spread," he said.