According to New Zealand health officials, a woman died after she was administered the Pfizer-BioNTech&nbsp;coronavirus <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-to-start-booster-shot-for-all-citizens-aged-above-12-409256">vaccine</a>.

The country's health ministry said an independent COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring board had concluded that the woman’s death was due to myocarditis which is a rare side effect of the Pfizer vaccine.

The health ministry said: "This is the first case in New Zealand where a death in the days following vaccination has been linked to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine."

Watch:

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The age of the woman wasn't released by the health ministry.

The health ministry however added that the cause of death has not yet been determined while asserting that, "the benefits of vaccination with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine continue to greatly outweigh the risk of both COVID-19 infection and vaccine side effects, including myocarditis."

The board however added that there were other medical issues occurring at the same time that may have influenced the outcome after the woman took the vaccine.

Pfizer is the only vaccine which has been approved by health officials for public rollout in the country. The authorities have given provisional approval to Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines.

New Zealand has been battling the virus with the Delta variant spreading&nbsp;rapidly in the country. On Monday the country reported 53 new coronavirus cases taking the total number of cases in the current outbreak to 562.

The government had announced a nationwide lockdown earlier this month after a virus case was detected in Auckland which has emerged as the epicentre of the virus.

On Sunday the country had reported 83 locally transmitted cases as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern indicated that tougher measures would be announced on Monday.

(With inputs from Agencies)

According to New Zealand health officials, a woman died after she was administered the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. The country's health ministry said an independent COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring board had concluded that the woman’s death was due to myocarditis which is a rare side effect of the Pfizer vaccine.

According to New Zealand health officials, a woman died after she was administered the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. The country's health ministry said an independent COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring board had concluded that the woman’s death was due to myocarditis which is a rare side effect of the Pfizer vaccine. The health ministry said: "This is the first case in New Zealand where a death in the days following vaccination has been linked to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine." Watch: The age of the woman wasn't released by the health ministry. The health ministry however added that the cause of death has not yet been determined while asserting that, "the benefits of vaccination with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine continue to greatly outweigh the risk of both COVID-19 infection and vaccine side effects, including myocarditis." The board however added that there were other medical issues occurring at the same time that may have influenced the outcome after the woman took the vaccine. Pfizer is the only vaccine which has been approved by health officials for public rollout in the country. The authorities have given provisional approval to Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines. New Zealand has been battling the virus with the Delta variant spreading rapidly in the country. On Monday the country reported 53 new coronavirus cases taking the total number of cases in the current outbreak to 562. The government had announced a nationwide lockdown earlier this month after a virus case was detected in Auckland which has emerged as the epicentre of the virus. On Sunday the country had reported 83 locally transmitted cases as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern indicated that tougher measures would be announced on Monday. (With inputs from Agencies)

New Zealand reports first death linked to Pfizer vaccine

New Zealand on Tuesday recorded the highest jump in coronavirus since last year recording 41 new COVID-19 cases.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-coronavirus-cases-rise-amid-lockdown-auckland-worst-hit-407596">Auckland </a>which has become the new epicentre of the virus recorded 38 cases with thee cases reported in Wellington.

Director-General of Health Chief Ashley Bloomfield however said that the country is not witnessing an "exponential increase".

Watch:

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New Zealand reported 148 coronavirus cases which is the highest since April 2020. PM Jacinda Ardern had declared a nationwide lockdown earlier which was extended till Tuesday as authorities detected the Delta variant.

The New Zealand prime minister had extended the lockdown on Monday to August 27 with restrictions in Auckland to last until August 31.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-new-zealand-covid-ministers-spread-your-legs-error-goes-viral-407836">Watch: New Zealand Covid minister’s ‘spread your legs’ error goes viral &nbsp;</a>

Ardern said the virus hadn't reached its peak while adding that it "does mean the safest options for all of us right now is to hold the course for longer."

The health ministry warned the number of cases could rise as the country witnessed a fresh outbreak. The country had closed its border last year in order to combat the virus but the latest surge has worried health officials.

New Zealand has so far witnessed just 26 deaths due to the virus and has been able successful in combating the virus, however, the recent reports of the Delta variant spreading in the country has put pressure on health officials.

Amid the outbreak, finance minister Grant Robertson assured that the economy has been "incredibly resilient" while adding that "public health response is still the best economic response".

The country has been slow with its vaccination&nbsp;drive with just over 20 per cent fully vaccinated.

Ardern however defended her virus strategy, saying: "For now everyone is in agreement elimination is the strategy, while adding, "There is no discussion or debate amongst any of us about that because that is the safest option for us while we continue to vaccinate our people."

(With inputs from Agencies)&nbsp;

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New Zealand on Tuesday recorded the highest jump in coronavirus since last year recording 41 new COVID-19 cases. Auckland which has become the new epicentre of the virus recorded 38 cases with thee cases reported in Wellington.

New Zealand on Tuesday recorded the highest jump in coronavirus since last year recording 41 new COVID-19 cases. Auckland which has become the new epicentre of the virus recorded 38 cases with thee cases reported in Wellington. Director-General of Health Chief Ashley Bloomfield however said that the country is not witnessing an "exponential increase". Watch: New Zealand reported 148 coronavirus cases which is the highest since April 2020. PM Jacinda Ardern had declared a nationwide lockdown earlier which was extended till Tuesday as authorities detected the Delta variant. The New Zealand prime minister had extended the lockdown on Monday to August 27 with restrictions in Auckland to last until August 31. Watch: New Zealand Covid minister’s ‘spread your legs’ error goes viral Ardern said the virus hadn't reached its peak while adding that it "does mean the safest options for all of us right now is to hold the course for longer." The health ministry warned the number of cases could rise as the country witnessed a fresh outbreak. The country had closed its border last year in order to combat the virus but the latest surge has worried health officials. New Zealand has so far witnessed just 26 deaths due to the virus and has been able successful in combating the virus, however, the recent reports of the Delta variant spreading in the country has put pressure on health officials. Amid the outbreak, finance minister Grant Robertson assured that the economy has been "incredibly resilient" while adding that "public health response is still the best economic response". The country has been slow with its vaccination drive with just over 20 per cent fully vaccinated. Ardern however defended her virus strategy, saying: "For now everyone is in agreement elimination is the strategy, while adding, "There is no discussion or debate amongst any of us about that because that is the safest option for us while we continue to vaccinate our people." (With inputs from Agencies)

New Zealand reports highest increase in COVID-19 cases since April last year

New Zealand reported 21 new coronavirus cases just days after it imposed a lockdown putting its "Covid zero" &nbsp;strategy in doubt.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealands-covid-19-outbreak-spreads-to-capital-wellington-407166">Auckland </a>reported 20 cases with at least 5 people hospitalised as the lockdown was extended until midnight set to last till next&nbsp;Tuesday.

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern had imposed the lockdown after a single case of suspected Delta variant was detected earlier in the week.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-zealand-announces-nationwide-lockdown-after-first-covid-case-in-6-months-406839/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-says-it-has-solved-covid-19-outbreak-puzzle-406735">New Zealand</a> had reported a virus case for the first time six months before this week's outbreak.

COVID-19 response minister Chris Hipkins conceded that despite "best preparations in the world" the virus had put the health system under strain.

Hipkins informed that about a million people have been fully vaccinated amid a slow vaccination rollout. Reports say only 20 per cent of the population has been fully inoculated as the opposition criticised the government's vaccine strategy.

The COVID-19 response minister said there were 72 active Delta cases with 66 in Auckland. Reports say health teams are currently checking the status of almost 9,000 close contacts of those who were infected with the virus earlier.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had maintained there was a need to remain "cautious" since the full scale of the Delta outbreak hadn't been ascertained.

The prime minister asserted that all the cases, including those in Wellington&nbsp;were linked. Ardern had said earlier that the "elimination strategy works" while vowing to stamp out the virus.

"Cases rise and then they fall until we have none. It's tried and true...we just need to stick it out," Ardern had asserted.

New Zealand has reported just 26 deaths and 2,660 confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic began last year and has been widely appreciated for its Covid response, however, the recent outbreak has surprised many and led to worries among ministers and health officials.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
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New Zealand reported 21 new coronavirus cases just days after it imposed a lockdown putting its "Covid zero" strategy in doubt. Auckland reported 20 cases with at least 5 people hospitalised as the lockdown was extended until midnight set to last till next Tuesday.

New Zealand reported 21 new coronavirus cases just days after it imposed a lockdown putting its "Covid zero" strategy in doubt. Auckland reported 20 cases with at least 5 people hospitalised as the lockdown was extended until midnight set to last till next Tuesday. Prime minister Jacinda Ardern had imposed the lockdown after a single case of suspected Delta variant was detected earlier in the week. Watch: New Zealand had reported a virus case for the first time six months before this week's outbreak. COVID-19 response minister Chris Hipkins conceded that despite "best preparations in the world" the virus had put the health system under strain. Hipkins informed that about a million people have been fully vaccinated amid a slow vaccination rollout. Reports say only 20 per cent of the population has been fully inoculated as the opposition criticised the government's vaccine strategy. The COVID-19 response minister said there were 72 active Delta cases with 66 in Auckland. Reports say health teams are currently checking the status of almost 9,000 close contacts of those who were infected with the virus earlier. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had maintained there was a need to remain "cautious" since the full scale of the Delta outbreak hadn't been ascertained. The prime minister asserted that all the cases, including those in Wellington were linked. Ardern had said earlier that the "elimination strategy works" while vowing to stamp out the virus. "Cases rise and then they fall until we have none. It's tried and true...we just need to stick it out," Ardern had asserted. New Zealand has reported just 26 deaths and 2,660 confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic began last year and has been widely appreciated for its Covid response, however, the recent outbreak has surprised many and led to worries among ministers and health officials. (With inputs from Agencies)

New Zealand: Coronavirus cases rise amid lockdown; Auckland worst-hit