Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has drawn comparisons to Superman's alter ego Clark Kent after he was filmed without his usual glasses.
Over the weekend it was revealed there are three community cases unable to be linked to the Auckland cluster. The source of the virus is still under investigation.
With a Cabinet decision on the status of New Zealand's alert levels due on Monday, Dr Bloomfield was tracked down by Newshub reporter Kethaki Masilamani for an emergency interview - which explains why he wasn't wearing his usual smart suit.
Dr Bloomfield was filmed in the office wearing sneakers, pants and what appeared to be an icebreaker top. He was also missing his distinctive glasses.
Dr Bloomfield appeared so different without them one reporter said it made them "question my own reality".
"It's Clarke Kent/Superman all over again [sic]," one person replied.
"Now I understand how Clark Kent pulled it off," another said on Reddit.
Kent, a fictional superhero, used glasses and a mild-mannered personality as a secret identity to keep his activities as Superman secret.
Others thought it showed Dr Bloomfield's work ethic.
"The guy is working pretty much every day of the week and has been since Jan. Respect," one said on Twitter.
"Dr Ashley 'COVID never sleeps so neither do I' Bloomfield," a third said.
