https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-21/new-zealand-coronavirus-update-auckland-l...New Zealand records 21 new cases of COVID-19 as Auckland outbreak spreads
By Max Walden
Posted 2h ago
2 hours ago
, updated 1h ago
New Zealand has recorded 21 new cases of COVID-19, as a Delta outbreak spreads beyond its largest city Auckland.
Key points:
New Zealand now has a total of 51 active cases
Jacinda Ardern says NSW shows cases can continue to rise during lockdown
Compliance with NZ's nationwide public health order has been "outstanding", authorities say
Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay said 18 of the new cases were detected in Auckland and three were in Wellington, the capital.
The new infections brought the total number of coronavirus cases in New Zealand to 51, she said.
Dr McElnay said COVID had also been detected in wastewater from Warkworth, a town 64 kilometres north of Auckland.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the additional cases were unsurprising given the infectiousness of the Delta variant.
She said cases could be expected to increase into next week.
Some 5,065 contacts associated with the cluster had been identified, Dr McElnay said, adding that a further 5,000 contacts were expected to be identified by the end of the day.
"One of the things that we've learned from New South Wales is that the virus can continue to spread during lockdown," Ms Ardern said, noting NSW's record 825 new cases today.
The country's latest outbreak has been linked to a traveller from Sydney.