A three-day lockdown was put in place in Auckland after the discovery of a new source of coronavirus contaminations this weekend.
1.7 million inhabitants will be required to stay at home from midnight Sunday evening.
Schools and businesses will remain closed on Monday, with the exception of businesses deemed “
essential
”, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced.
First cases after two months without any contamination
An outbreak of coronavirus was detected earlier at the weekend in New Zealand, where three members of the same family have tested positive, including a woman working for a catering company serving international flights.
"
There are new and active infections
," said Health Minister Chris Hipkins, who said the source of the contamination had not yet been identified.
New Zealand authorities have downplayed any link to onboard meals, stressing that eight days had passed between the contaminated woman's last day of work and her positive test.
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New Zealand recorded several cases of Covid-19 three weeks ago, ending a period of over two months without any contamination.
New Zealand's record in the fight against Covid-19 has been hailed abroad, with the archipelago totaling less than 2,000 cases since the start of the pandemic.
The country has closed its borders to foreign travelers since March, and imposed a strict five-week lockdown last spring.
In total, 25 deaths have been attributed to Covid-19 in the country.