The New Zealand COVID-19 blockade was extended as the outbreak exceeds 100 cases

WELLINGTON, Aug. 23 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday extended New Zealand’s strict national blockade COVID-19 saying the current outbreak of the Delta variant of the coronavirus had not yet reached its peak.

The national level 4 blockade was extended for three days until midnight on August 27, while Auckland, the epicenter of the outbreak, will have restrictions set at least until August 31.

“The safest option for everyone now is to keep the course longer,” Ardern said at a news conference.

“If the world has taught us anything, we need to be careful with this variant of COVID-19,” he added.

Ardern said contacts were reported in the community of people infected with the Delta variant across the country. There are more than 320 sites related to the outbreak and 13,000 contacts have been registered, far more than in previous outbreaks.

“Delta has changed the rules of the game,” Ardern said.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand reported 35 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the total number of infections in the outbreak to 107.

The health ministry said in a statement that 33 new cases are in Auckland and two in the capital Wellington.

Reports by Praveen Menon and Renju Jose; Edited by Kim Coghill and Chrstian Schmollinger

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