New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Auckland will go into a seven-day lockdown from early morning on Sunday after a new local case of the coronavirus of unknown origin emerged.
This comes two weeks after Auckland's nearly two million residents when a family of three were diagnosed with the more transmissible UK variant of COVID-19 that causes COVID-19.
Health officials, who could not immediately confirm how the person got infected, said genome sequencing of the new infection was under way.
The patient developed symptoms on Tuesday and is regarded as having been potentially infectious since Sunday, officials said. The person has visited several public venues during that period.
"Based on this, we are in the unfortunate but necessary position to protect Aucklanders again," Ms Ardern said on Saturday.
Health authorities were trying to find out whether the new case was linked to the earlier February cluster, now at 12 infections.
The lockdown, with level three restrictions, will allow people to leave home only for essential shopping and essential work, Ms Ardern said.
Public venues will remain closed. Restrictions in the rest of the country will be tightened to level two restrictions, including limits on public gatherings.
New Zealand, one of the most successful developed nations in controlling the spread of the pandemic, has seen just more than 2,000 cases of the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.
A marquee Twenty20 cricket clash in Auckland between New Zealand and Australia, scheduled for Friday, will be played in Wellington without crowds, New Zealand Cricket said.
The new restrictions also complicated the America's Cup Event yacht race scheduled to start on 6 March in Auckland's harbour.
America's Cup Event said on Twitter it was working "through the implications".
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction's restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: , , , , , , ,
***
Like this story? Here's where else you can find SBS News content and follow us:
SBS also publishes news in 68 languages online and on radio. Find your language at .
