New Zealand's Covid-19 epidemic has worsened with 82 additional cases bringing the total number of infected to 415.
All cases on Saturday were in Auckland. The Pacific community was again the most represented with 62 cases.
New Zealand is now in day 11 of a severe lockdown to stop the spread of the virus. Most recent cases have been reported from family members and not at gatherings or in essential workplaces. The battle against the highly contagious Delta virus appears delicately balanced in New Zealand.
Jacinda Ardern (NZ prime minister) has stated that she expects cases to reach a peak within eight to ten days. Friday's statement said that the government does not anticipate any further large jumps in cases.
New Zealand extended its nationwide lockdown to Tuesday. Ardern stated that her cabinet would determine the lockdown setting in Auckland on Monday. However, she said it was likely Auckland would remain in the highest level for at least two more weeks.
Saturday's total of 82 cases, up from Friday's 70, is New Zealand's fifth-worst day during the coronavirus pandemic.
After only one case of community violence in Auckland, the government placed the nation under lockdown on 17 August.
New Zealand has reported 26 deaths due to the virus among a population of five million people since the outbreak.
New Zealanders were virus-free for six months prior to the current outbreak. They went to work, shopping, and sporting events without masks. Children continued to school. A traveller from Sydney brought back the Delta variant of the virus, which was then able to escape from a quarantine hospital.
The number of cases has risen to 350 and is causing strain to New Zealand's contact-tracing system. Workers are trying to find 30,000 more people who may have been affected.
Most people are unable to leave their homes except to exercise or buy food or medicine. Restaurants, including take-out schools, are also closed.
New Zealand's vaccine rollout was the slowest among developed nations. Only 39% of people have received at least one shot, and only 22% are fully vaccinated. Only the Pfizer vaccine was used by New Zealand, and it was not approved for use by the country until two months after emergency approvals from US regulators.
Pfizers delivery schedule was blamed by the government for the slow rollout.
Since the outbreak, vaccinations have increased rapidly. Health workers are now giving vaccines to almost 2% of the population each day.
