New Zealand enters national lockdown as first Covid case since February found

New Zealand will go into a Level 4 lockdown – it’s highest category – after the first Covid-19 case since February was reported, after a person tested positive in Auckland on Tuesday (17 August).

It is assumed the Covid-19 case will be confirmed to be the more contagious Delta variant, and no link to travel or managed isolation has yet to be established.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the country would be moving back into lockdown from 11.59pm on Tuesday evening, so as to give the authorities time to trace and isolate the infection.