Status: 08/17/2021 1:18 p.m.
Because a single case of Covid-19 has occurred in New Zealand, Prime Minister Ardern has imposed a nationwide lockdown. People should stay at home for three days and avoid contact.
New Zealand has locked down a single case of coronavirus transmission in the country. The Delta variant upset everything, said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in explanation. “That means we have to act early and decisively to stop its spread. We only get one chance.” The five million residents are said to remain on alert level four for three days – schools, offices, everything except for vital services and businesses have closed.
Seven days of lockdown in Auckland
In Auckland, the largest city in the country, the lockdown is even valid for seven days. The infected 58-year-old man lives here. Whether the virus is the delta variant is still being determined. During these seven days, the authorities will examine wastewater and test people with cold symptoms across the board. Because of the lockdown, people stood in line in front of supermarkets to stock up on supplies. From midnight local time, New Zealanders must stay at home and avoid contact with others. Most of them are only allowed to leave the house to exercise or buy groceries.
Long lines formed in front of many shops.
Image: AP
The locally transmitted case of Covid-19 is the first since February: The island nation in the southern hemisphere has been a zero Covid zone since then – except for the infections that returning New Zealanders brought with them, but which were directly quarantined. In total, New Zealand has only had about 2,900 cases and 26 deaths so far.
Low vaccination rate
The Prime Minister immediately called a level four alert. To justify this, she explained that it would be easier to loosen up again instead of starting too loosely and then having to take tougher measures if the virus spreads too quickly. “We have seen what happens elsewhere if we do not manage to get the upper hand,” said Ardern, referring to neighboring Australia. The largest city there, Sydney with five million inhabitants, has been in lockdown for nine weeks, but the number of new infections continues to rise.
Not many residents of New Zealand are vaccinated against the coronavirus yet. Only 32 percent of the population have been vaccinated at least once, 18 percent are fully vaccinated.
Covid-19 in New Zealand: three days lockdown due to a case
Lena Bodewein, ARD Singapore, August 17, 2021 12:45 p.m.