NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand has recorded its highest number of daily coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic as a Delta variant outbreak that dashed the nation's “Covid Zero” hopes showed no signs of easing.

Health authorities announced 94 new virus cases, exceeding the previous daily record of 89 set in April last year during the first wave of Covid-19 infections, AFP reported.

While case numbers remain low by most international standards, they have been steadily growing since the highly transmissible Delta variant was first found in New Zealand in mid-August. Around two-thirds of the eligible population have now been fully inoculated.