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NZ records first local COVID case in 102 days

After marking 100 days without a single known domestic transmission of the coronavirus on Sunday (August 9), New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Tuesday (August 11) it was shutting down its largest city, Auckland, after four new cases were discovered there.

"After 102 days, we have our first cases of COVID-19 outside of a managed isolation or quarantine facility in New Zealand."

New Zealand has been globally praised for its fast reaction to the pandemic and extremely low infection rate.

Ardern said Auckland would move to level 3 restriction from noon on Wednesday (August 12) as a "precautionary approach," which would mean people should stay away from work and school, and gatherings or more than 10 people are again restricted.

The restriction would be applied for three days until Friday (August 14).

The country's director general of health says the four confirmed cases were within one family, and it's not known how they were infected.