Health authorities announced 94 new cases, exceeding the previous daily record of 89 set in April last year during the first wave of COVID-19 infections.


Wellington: New Zealand Tuesday (October 19) recorded its highest number of daily COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic as a Delta-variant outbreak that dashed the nation's "Covid Zero" hopes showed no signs of easing.
Health authorities announced 94 new cases, exceeding the previous daily record of 89 set in April last year during the first wave of COVID-19 infections.
While case numbers remain low by most international standards, they have been steadily growing since the highly transmissible Delta variant was first found in New Zealand in mid-August.
The outbreak, centred on Auckland, has forced Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to drop her core policy goal of eliminating the virus in favour of ramping up vaccination efforts.
The New Zealand leader is set to unveil a new strategy on Friday that will allow for greater freedoms once vaccination targets have been reached.
About two-thirds of the eligible population have now been fully inoculated.
"We know that vaccinations are already making a significant difference to the outbreak in Auckland, but so too are people following the rules," Ardern told reporters.
Before the arrival of Delta, New Zealand won widespread praise for its hardline approach, which involved strict lockdowns, rigorous contact tracing and tight border restrictions.
COURTESY: AP

Tributes pour in as boxing icon Ricky Hatton passes away
- 10 گھنٹے قبل
Google announces two new features for Gmail
- 9 گھنٹے قبل

Nintendo Switch modder ordered to pay $2 million in piracy lawsuit
- ایک گھنٹہ قبل

Libya reaches deal with armed group to ease tensions
- 10 گھنٹے قبل
Motorway M-5 shut down due to rising floodwaters in Multan
- 10 گھنٹے قبل

Woman charged in deaths of Marquette athletes
- 2 منٹ قبل

Our first look at the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max
- ایک گھنٹہ قبل

NATO states scramble jets after Russian drone violates airspace
- 10 گھنٹے قبل

Crawford a career-high 167.5 lbs for Canelo clash
- 2 منٹ قبل

49ers' QB Purdy a 'long shot' to play in Week 2
- 2 منٹ قبل
Woman burned alive in Rawalpindi domestic dispute
- 10 گھنٹے قبل

FIA arrests six in crackdown on illegal currency networks
- 10 گھنٹے قبل