New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Sunday announced a three-day lockdown in the country's biggest city Auckland, after three new local COVID-19 cases were reported.
Ardern said the level 3 restrictions will require everyone to stay home except for essential shopping and essential work.
New Zealand has not had any local virus cases for months until the recent infections and was ranked the best performing in an index of almost 100 countries based on containment of the coronavirus.
By closing its international borders early the island nation virtually eradicated the virus in the early stage of the pandemic.
US, India agree on trade deal and lower tariffs, says Trump
Israel reopens Gaza's Rafah border crossing to Egypt, with limits
US envoy Witkoff to visit Israel, meet Netanyahu, Israeli officials say
Russian drone strike kills 12 miners in Ukraine
Singapore to launch space agency in response to global investment surge
Five-year-old boy returns to Minnesota after ICE release
Reopening of Gaza's Rafah crossing expected Monday
Winter storm death toll in United States reaches 90
