New Zealand Wavers Over Covid Zero Strategy

New Zealand concedes its ambitious “Covid zero” elimination strategy may no longer be viable as an outbreak of the virulent Delta variant spreads further. 

The country today reports a further 21 cases in a virus cluster that emerged in Auckland last week, ending a six-month run of no local cases and sparking a national lockdown. 

New Zealand’s widely praised Covid-19 response hinges on expelling the virus from the community. It has relied on strict border controls backed by hard lockdowns when any cases do slip through – but Delta may force a rethink. 

Nonetheless, Covid-19 eradication remains a top priority for the ongoing Delta flare-up, at least for now. Anyway, it already boasts 72 active cases, 66 of which are in Auckland and six in Wellington.

It's worth noting that NZ numbers pale in comparison to Malaysia! And yet, the former bolts its doors tightly over one discovered Covid case but the latter is having an "open house" even as we are drowning under the bulky weight of a five-digit caseload! 

Yesterday, Celtic went out with guns blazing as they shot down St Mirren 6-0 – and pushed themselves to the top of the Scottish Premiership summit. 

A first career hattrick from David Turnbull (28, 44, 84), a Liel Abada brace (17, 22) and an Odsonne Edouard finish (62) gave Celtic back-to-back league wins. 

Celtic are preparing themselves perfectly for a seismic week in which they will face AZ Alkmaar for the return leg of their Europa League play-off on Thursday, followed by the first Old Firm derby of the season at Ibrox next Sunday.

At Anfield, Liverpool marked their first game in front of a capacity 54,000 crowd after 529 days as they chalked up a 2-0 win over Burnley – and made it two Premier League wins from two games. 

Diogo Jota glanced in a header off a cross by left back Konstantinos Tsimikas in the 18th minute and Sadio Mane struck home a powerful, low shot from a central position from Trent Alexander-Arnold's deft pass in the 69th. 

Liverpool were made to work hard for their win and the Clarets didn’t make it easy for them at all. After all, this was the side that had claimed a shock victory in the same fixture last season to end Liverpool's 68-game unbeaten run at Anfield in the league. 

A deserved three points for the Reds but Burnley can take heart from a decent performance.