Auckland's COVID-19 Infection Cases Drop Again, New Zealand Discusses Lockdown Issues Next Week

JAKARTA - New Zealand authorities plan to discuss the issue of the lockdown next Monday, when cases of COVID-19 infection in the country are again experiencing a decline.

This Friday, New Zealand reported 11 new cases of COVID-19 infection, all in Auckland, the country's largest city, as efforts to limit the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 continue.

The latest daily number is down from 13 COVID-19 infections recorded on Thursday and the lowest so far this week, bringing the total number of infections from the current outbreak, which began in mid-August, to around 879.

In line with current conditions, the New Zealand Government will decide on Monday whether the strict lockdown in Auckland will be relaxed or extended.

"I totally understand the people in Auckland would like to see the alert level lowered. They have done it with discipline," Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said at a news conference.

"But the thing that has helped us well is being careful and also making sure when we do the job we do it once and we do it right."

About 1.7 million people living in Auckland remain in a strict level 4 lockdown, while restrictions were eased across New Zealand earlier this week.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's lockdown and closure of international borders since March 2020 has been credited with curbing COVID-19, largely freeing up daily activities for New Zealanders.

There have only been 3,510 cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand since the pandemic began last year, with 27 associated deaths. However, PM Ardern has been criticized for a slow vaccination programme, as the country battles the latest outbreak of the Delta variant.

To note, the Kiwi Republic purchased around a quarter million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech (PFE.N) COVID-19 vaccine from Spain this week to boost the country's inoculation program.