New Zealand may have avoided a serious outbreak of COVID-19 after fresh testing revealed no new community cases of the virus. 
 More than 15,000 tests were taken on Monday after three family members tested positive to the virus on the weekend.


However, there have been no positive tests since, with COVID-19 Minister Chris Hipkins on Tuesday declaring he was "very pleased" with the outcome.
 Jacinda Ardern's government ordered Auckland into a three-day lockdown after the discovery of the positive tests.


The lack of any new positive cases raises hopes that New Zealand's biggest city may return to normality on Wednesday night, when the lockdown is due to finish.