Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has extended New Zealand's strict nationwide Covid-19 lockdown saying the current outbreak of the Delta variant of the coronavirus had not yet peaked.
The level 4 national lockdown was extended by three days until midnight on 27 August while Auckland, the epicentre of the outbreak, will have restrictions in place at least until 31 August. "The safest option for all of us right now is to hold the course for longer," Ms Ardern said at a news conference. "If the world has taught us anything it is to be cautious with this variant of Covid-19," she added.
Ms Ardern said contacts in the community by people infected with the Delta variant were reported all over the country. There are more than 320 locations of