The government has called for Alert Level 4 COVID lockdown from midnight tonight due to a confirmed community case in Auckland. 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Auckland and Coromandel, where the community case is centred, will be in lockdown for the next seven days, while the rest of the nation will be locked down for the next three days. 

“We have a positive case in the community, we won’t be able to positively identify the genome sequencing and if it is delta or not until tomorrow.

“We have to assume it could be delta, and that has shaped our decision this afternoon.”

Jacinda assured New Zealanders a plan is in place and that “going hard and early has worked before”.

Delta is twice as infectious and more liable to cause serious illness.

New Zealand is one of the last countries in the world to see delta, she says this puts NZ in a position to see what works and what doesn’t work.

She says NZ only has one chance.

“NZ will move to level four from midnight tonight for three days,” she says. “Coromandel and Auckland will stay at level for around 7 days.

“We have made decisions to start high and go down levels, rather than start low and allow it to spread quickly. 

“I’m asking the team of 5 million to unite again to defeat this virus.”

It’s been a year since the highest level has been used.

Simplest thing kiwis can do is stay at home, Jacinda says. “Once you go into a bubble you must stay there”.

“Delta spreads easily through air, so physical distancing is more important than ever.”

Dr Ashley Bloomfield says the case presented to a GP yesterday with symptoms yesterday, and thanked the person as well as the general practice.

He says the 58-year-old from Devonport and could have been Symptomatic and contagious since 12 August.

His wife was also tested yesterday and has returned a negative result.

The couple had been in coromandel township Friday Aug 13, and the man had not been vaccinated, whereas his wife was fully vaccinated.

The man had been at a pub on Saturday night to watch the rugby. Contact tracers are working overtime to trace attendees of every location the man had attended. 

The couple had been actively using the Covid tracer app, with 23 locations of interest - 13 in coromandel and 10 in Auckland.

Ashley Bloomfield says the Coromandel wastewater was tested today, pending results, with daily testing to now be carried out.

He implored every single kiwi to get tested if showing symptoms or if they have been in locations of interest.

KEY POINTS

• New Zealand is going into lockdown for 3 days from 11.59pm. Auckland and Coromandel will be in lockdown for 7 days.

• A 58-year-old Devonport man tested positive today after visiting a GP yesterday. He was infectious from August 12.

• The man, who isn't vaccinated, and his wife travelled to Coromandel over the weekend. His wife is fully vaccinated.

• There is no obvious link to the border at this stage.

• While results of genome testing won't be back until tomorrow it is being treated as a Delta case.

• There are 23 locations of interest, 10 in Auckland and 13 in Coromandel.

• Testing centres open until 8pm tonight.