New Zealand’s largest city is being placed in a three-day lockdown following the discovery of three unexplained coronavirus cases in the community.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the move for Auckland after an urgent meeting with other top politicians in the cabinet.
She said they decided to take a cautious approach until they found out more about the outbreak, including whether the infections were of the more contagious variants.
The rest of New Zealand will also be placed under heightened restrictions although will not go into lockdown, Ms Ardern said.
The three cases are believed to be a mother, father and daughter.
The mother works for an airline catering firm and testing is being carried out at the site.
It has been 21 days since the last case of coronaviris i New Zealand.
