Central Station in Sydney, is near empty on Aug. 13, 2021 as greater Sydney continues a weeks-long COVID-19 lockdown. (Photo: AP)

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown has been extended until midnight on Friday.

The lockdown in Auckland has been extended until midnight on August 31, according to Ardern.

The whole country is at alert level 4 as the outbreak of the Delta variant continues to grow.