Cabinet ministers are meeting today to decide the next steps for Auckland and Northland as experts call for tighter restrictions.

The rest of the country is set to move to alert level 3 from midnight tomorrow.

Epidemiologist Michael Baker says the alert level system is out of date and needs a major upgrade.

Masks should be mandated at workplaces and schools at alert level 3 and even level 2, he says.

Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles wants better ventilation and N95 mask use in businesses under both alert level 4 and level 3.

Yesterday, another 83 cases were reported in the community, bringing the total to 511 community cases.

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