New Zealand's Ardern orders nationwide lockdown over one COVID-19 case

New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern participates in a debate in Auckland
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern participates in a televised debate with National leader Judith Collins at TVNZ in Auckland, New Zealand, September 22, 2020. Fiona Goodall/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

WELLINGTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a nationwide lockdown on Tuesday after a new case of COVID-19 was discovered in the biggest city of Auckland.

The lockdown will run seven days in Auckland, but three days elsewhere. Ardern said authorities were assuming the new case was a Delta variant although this has not been confirmed.

Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Clarence Fernandez

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