Jacinda Ardern throws Auckland into another week long lockdown after just ONE new case of Covid-19

Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern has announced Auckland will go into a week-long lockdown after a new mystery case of Covid-19 was discovered.   

The country’s capital will enter a Level Three lockdown from Sunday at 6am – meaning retail businesses can only offer online or click and collect services and schools must move to remote learning.  

Auckland’s new restrictions are in response to a new community case Ms Ardern said does not appear to be connected to a cluster of cases in the south of the city. 

The infected man, 20, went to the GP for a Covid test on Friday afternoon but then went to the gym – which Ms Ardern said was ‘frustrating’.

‘People who should have been in isolation, weren’t,’ she said of the country’s recent outbreak in February. 

‘Unfortunately, we have still had breaches of requirements in this case.’

Auckland’s original cluster is centred around Papatoetoe High School, and the new case is the older brother of a student at that school.

Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern (pictured) has announced Auckland will go into lockdown for one week, after just one new local case of Covid-19

The mother of the siblings has also tested positive for Covid-19.  

However, Ms Ardern said that student has tested negative for coronavirus multiple times. 

‘That means we have no current known link for the case discovered this afternoon,’ she told the media on Saturday afternoon. 

‘If we cannot immediately link a case person to person, what we call it an epidemiological link, that is a significant issue, and one we need to act on.’

The rest of the country will face tightened public gathering rules under Level Two restrictions.  

In mid-February, the city was plunged into a three-day lockdown after three members of the same family tested positive for the highly infectious UK strain of Covid-19. 

The rest of New Zealand will face Level two restrictions from Sunday at 6am. Pictured: Testing station in Auckland on February 15

The restrictions are in response to a new community case Ms Ardern (pictured) said does not appear to be connected to a cluster of cases in the south of Auckland

Level three restrictions mean people are confined to their household bubble or an exclusive extended bubble – which may include close relatives or isolated people. 

People must work from home if possible and businesses must not offer services requiring close personal contact, unless it is an essential service or emergency. 

Public venues are closed but low-risk recreation activities are allowed within bubbles, such as bike riding, swimming or going on a picnic with other household members. 

The cluster is centred around Papatoetoe High School, and the new case, a 21-year-old male, is reportedly the older brother of a student at that school. Pictured: A Covid-19 station set up outside the high school on February 15

Level three restrictions mean people are confined to their household bubble or an exclusive extended bubble – which may include close relatives or isolated people. Pictured: Empty Auckland streets during lockdown in August, 2020 

For the rest of New Zealand under Level two restrictions, people can socialise in groups of up to 100, shop and travel domestically. 

Schools will remain open and groups over 100 are allowed in cinemas, casinos and stadiums as long as groups of 100 and less do not mix with each other. 

Ms Ardern said she was disappointed in those who have not followed the rules and put the community at risk.

‘We do have the ability to take enforcement action if we need to,’ she said adding that people needed to feel comfortable coming forward. 

‘We still need an environment where people will speak up and come forward and be tested.’ 

The newest case is the older brother of a student at Papatoetoe High School (pictured), where the south Auckland cluster originated  

The latest restrictions come after the city of 2million people entered a three day lockdown on February 15 when three people from one family – a Papatoetoe High School student and her parents – tested positive for Covid-19.

The city was thrown into a level three lockdown while the rest of the country was placed under level two restrictions.  

The mother worked at LSG Sky Chefs, an airport laundry and catering facility at Auckland airport, while the daughter was a student at Papatoetoe High School.