Feb 27, 2021 - World

New Zealand's largest city to enter coronavirus lockdown

Jacob Knutson

A coronavirus testing site in Auckland, New Zealand, on Feb. 15. Photo: Xinhua/Zhao Gang via Getty Images

New Zealand's largest city Auckland will enter a seven-day coronavirus lockdown starting Sunday after a new local case of the virus was discovered, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced.

Why it matters: The action comes roughly two weeks after the city of 2 million residents entered a three-day lockdown over a cluster of the more transmissible UK variant that was reported in the city.

Details: The lockdown, with Level 3 restrictions, permits people to leave home for essential shopping and essential work, according to Ardern.

Public venues will be closed and restrictions throughout the rest of the country tightened to Level 2.
Ardern announced in mid-February that the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines had arrived in New Zealand.

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New Zealand's largest city to enter coronavirus lockdown

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