The trans-Tasman bubble has popped, for now - with quarantine-free travel to Australia paused until midnight Tuesday.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced the bubble pause on Saturday night, following advice from health officials. The pause took effect at 10.30pm.

Meanwhile, Wellington should know by the end of the day whether it can join the rest of the country at alert level 1.

The capital has been at alert level 2 since Wednesday, following the revelation that a positive Covid-19 case from Australia spent two days in Wellington.

Cabinet will meet to assess the evidence and any risk before making the call.

New Zealand has not recorded any new community cases since Wellington's alert level was changed.

Dr Michael Baker believes the visit of a Covid-infected Australian tourist to a Te Papa exhibition last weekend was the country's most dangerous exposure event since the pandemic began.

The traveller in question has since returned to Australia, where things have just gotten much tougher for residents of Greater Sydney. The city has been put into a two-week lockdown.

People there are now only allowed to leave home for work that can't be done at home, to shop for essential items, for exercise, to seek medical care or for caregiving or compassionate reasons.

The Australian Retailers Association estimates the loss in retail trade during the lockdown will reach A$2 billion, equivalent to NZ$2.15b.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom's health secretary Matt Hancock has quit after images were published showing him kissing a senior aide in an office at the Department of Health, in a breach of social distancing rules in place at the time.

The tabloid Sun newspaper ran the images that showed Hancock, who is married, kissing senior aide Gina Coladangelo.

Global toll

The global number of cases has reached 180.5 million, according to Global deaths are at just over 3.9 million.

The United States continues to record the most cases and fatalities - 33.6 million infections, and 603,649 deaths.

India and Brazil have the second and third most cases, with 30.1 million and 18.3 million infections, respectively.

What should I do?

Anyone who wants to get tested can find their local testing centres by visiting the Ministry of Health website.

New Zealand, including Auckland, is at Covid-19 alert level 1, with masks still mandatory on public transport. People should continue to use the Covid-19 Tracer App.

If you are sick, call your GP before you visit, or Healthline on 0800 358 5453.

To avoid contracting and spreading the virus, wash your hands properly, cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow and throw tissues away immediately.

Reach out, find support from people who care, connect with your community or help a neighbour in need.