In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned Auckland may go back into a lengthy lockdown, after 13 new community coronavirus cases were detected. New Zealand spent more than 100 days without reporting any cases, after health officials responded early and aggressively to the pandemic.

In Australia, Melbourne remains on a strict lockdown as the country reported a record 21 coronavirus deaths on Wednesday. Sixteen of the deaths are linked to outbreaks in nursing homes.