“We know of instances where people have picked up Delta simply by walking past someone with it,” said a Ministry of Health statement.

New Zealand has moved to the top level 4 national lockdown from midnight Tuesday following the first identified Delta COVID-19 case in the Auckland community. The Alert level will be reviewed after three days for all areas except Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula which is likely to remain at Level 4 for an initial period of seven days.

Fearing of a prolonged lockdown in the epicenter of the Delta community transmission, fleeing Aucklanders brought their boats and caravans, and with their bikes on top of their racks, trying to get out of the city before the lockdown took effect.

As a result, residents at Coromandel Peninsula set up their own road blocks to curb the fleeing Aucklanders with the help of police.