Jacinda Ardern: New Zealand closes Auckland city after finding a new focus of Corona
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced raising the state of alert in the city of Auckland, from level two to third and imposing a complete lockdown, starting at midnight today, Sunday, for a period of three days after recording 3 cases of Coronavirus in one family.
Ardern said - in a statement quoted by the British newspaper, "The Guardian" - "The new cases must be dealt with with a high degree of caution, as they are likely to be one of the deadliest mutated Corona strains."
She added, "The three-day period will give us time to collect more information, conduct tests on a large scale, and determine whether there is a wider transmission or not .. We have gone through the experience and we know how to get out of it."
The decision is the second regional lockdown of its kind in New Zealand after Auckland residents were asked to observe home isolation for nearly 3 weeks in August.
The outbreak has been contained and successfully eradicated, and New Zealanders have enjoyed an unrestricted summer so far, according to the British newspaper.
Under the third state of alert, citizens of "Auckland" must stay in their homes and work remotely if possible, while schools, shops and public places are closed, and gatherings are limited to 10 people. As for the rest of New Zealand cities, work at the level of the second alert remains in effect and according to which citizens adhere to procedures. Social distancing and the wearing of protective masks, as schools and businesses continue to open and gatherings are restricted to 100 people.
