Download
New Zealand returns to lockdown as Delta cases edge up
Updated 16:37, 18-Aug-2021
CGTN
Lambton Quay is devoid of people on the first day of a lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Wellington, New Zealand, August 18, 2021. /Reuters

Lambton Quay is devoid of people on the first day of a lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Wellington, New Zealand, August 18, 2021. /Reuters

New Zealand's city streets were largely deserted on Wednesday as the country returned to life in lockdown for the first time in six months in a bid to halt any spread of the infectious Delta variant of COVID-19.

The country had been virus-free and living without restrictions until Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ordered a snap three-day nationwide lockdown on Tuesday after a single case, suspected to be Delta, was found in the largest city Auckland. 

The number of COVID-19 cases had risen to 10 on Wednesday, although modelling suggested numbers could rise to 50-100. "From the experience of what we've seen overseas, we are absolutely anticipating more cases," Ardern said.

The move to lockdown will put the country "in a much less risky position," she added at a media conference.

New Zealand will be in level 4 lockdown, the highest alert level, for at least three days, while Auckland will remain in lockdown for seven days.

Ardern said genome sequencing had shown the Auckland case was linked to an outbreak in neighboring Australia's New South Wales state, but it was still not clear how Delta had entered the community.

02:48

In the capital Wellington, few people ventured out in the city center, which would normally be bustling with shoppers and office workers, while television footage showed similar scenes in Auckland.

Panic buying erupted after the lockdown announcement on Tuesday, with people stocking essentials at supermarkets despite repeated assurances from the government that there will be no shortage in supplies.

Businesses and schools scrambled to move online.

Ardern has won praise for containing local transmission of COVID-19 via an elimination strategy, imposing tough lockdowns and shutting New Zealand's international border in March 2020.

The last reported community case of COVID-19 in New Zealand was in February, with about 2,500 confirmed cases overall and 26 deaths, and citizens have been living without restrictions.

It's neighbor Australia recorded its highest number of new COVID-19 cases in recent months on Wednesday when half of the country's capital cities were under lockdown to battle a third wave of coronavirus infections.

There were 679 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Australia on Wednesday morning.

(With input from Reuters and Xinhua)

Search Trends