New Zealand extends cruise ship ban to contain virus

New Zealand is introducing stricter measures to strengthen its border after reporting more coronavirus cases linked to overseas travel.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the current ban on cruise ships will be extended beyond June 30.

"While the world enters this dangerous new phase, we remain in a phase of border containment," she told a media briefing, while adding that some quarantine rules would be tightened.

Two new cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation facilities have been reported, taking the total number of active cases to nine.

The country, which was among the first to end all restrictions after declaring it was virus-free, has reported new cases in recent days.