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A press briefing was called at 6pm on Tuesday, August 17, following the announcement of a Covid-19 community case that was identified in Auckland.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield fronted Aotearoa (New Zealand) to make the move to Alert Level 4.

The Delta variant of Covid-19 has been detected a number of times in MIQ facilities as of recent, and the risk would be greater than locking down.

It was time to take the early approach by ‘going hard and early' as a precautionary to ensure the virus does not get further into the community.

The 58-year-old man became infectious on August 12 and is from Devonport. He had been identified as not being linked to managed isolation and quarantine facilities or the border. Health officials were working to establish its origin and if it's Delta.

He was not vaccinated but had been looking to get booked in for the jab. However, his wife is fully vaccinated — they both were frequent users of the NZ COVID Tracer app allowing the Contact Tracers to take action.

Questions remained as to how transmission of the virus occurred, while the answer will eventually prevail over the next few days as the news comes across. It will determine whether New Zealand will stay in lockdown for longer or have restrictions lifted to convey a sense of freedom once again.

Image: SUPPLIED/Ministry of Health
Video: CC/Ministry of Health

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