11 new cases as Jacinda Ardern reveals review of NZ's alert levels

Auckland's lockdown will not lift early and will remain at least until next Wednesday.

NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Cabinet would meet next Monday to decide whether the current alert levels for the city and the rest of New Zealand need to be changed.

Auckland is scheduled to be in alert level 3 and the rest of the country in level 2 until August 26.

She said there were encouraging signs and there was no need to make the settings more restrictive - but they would not be eased ahead of the current schedule.

Ardern's announcement followed 11 new COVID cases being revealed today, nine in the community and two in managed isolation.

Five of the new cases were linked to South Auckland churches, and of 223 identified close contacts, 170 have been tested.

[Source: NZ Herald]