New Zealand's daily coronavirus cases have jumped to their highest level in weeks, a setback to the South Pacific nation's battle to eliminate the highly infectious Delta variant from its shores.

Health authorities have reported 45 new cases, all in the biggest city, Auckland, taking the total number of cases in the current outbreak to 1,230.

It's much higher than the eight reported on Tuesday, and the highest number of daily cases since September 2.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins urged New Zealanders to stay calm, saying: "We do expect from time to time there will be blips."

Read more from Reuters here.

A medical worker administers a Covid-19 test at a testing clinic during a lockdown to curb the spread of a coronavirus outbreak in Auckland, New Zealand, August 26. — Reuters
A medical worker administers a Covid-19 test at a testing clinic during a lockdown to curb the spread of a coronavirus outbreak in Auckland, New Zealand, August 26. — Reuters

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