New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today announced a three-day lockdown in the country's biggest city Auckland, after three Covid-19 cases emerged, the first local infections since late January.

Level 3 restrictions will require everyone to stay home except for essential shopping and essential work, Ardern said, repeating the strict approach the country has taken over the past year in virtually eliminating the pandemic.

"We have stamped out the virus before and we will do it again...