As most countries worldwide are facing a second rise in coronavirus cases, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern claimed that the situation in Auckland “would get worse before it gets better”. Some are expecting a long lockdown for the country’s biggest city. 

“Once again we are reminded of how tricky this virus is and how easily it can spread. Going hard and early is still the best course of action,” the Prime Minister said. 13 new community cases were confirmed in Auckland, home to over 1.4 million people, following the four cases reported on Tuesday.

Authorities are set to give their decision on a potential lockdown at the end of the week, but currently Auckland remains in its three-day level 3 lockdown. Citizens were advised to only leave their homes for essential reasons, such as for work, shopping or exercising. 

The country currently has 36 active cases. New Zealand had gone 102 days without any new coronavirus cases, with the world seeing the country as one that handled the pandemic well.

Speaking during a media briefing in Wellington, Arden explained, “As we all learnt from our first experience with Covid, once you identify a cluster, it grows before it slows. We should expect that to be the case here. We can see the seriousness of the situation we are in. It’s being dealt with in an urgent but calm and methodical way.”

Director-general of health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield showed positivity saying, “We will find the source, I have no doubt about that.”

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