Wellington:
New Zealand will move into a snap 3-day lockdown just after recording its 1st case of locally transmitted Covid-19 in six months, suspected to be the Delta variant, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated Tuesday.
“We have seen what can happen elsewhere if we fail to get on top of it. We only get one chance,” Ardern stated in a televised national address, calling the Delta strain “a game changer”.
New Zealand recorded its 1st locally transmitted case of Covid-19 in six months on Tuesday, sparking efforts to trace the origins of the infection as officials pondered a response.
The well being division stated the case was identified in Auckland, the country’s biggest city, adding “a link between the case and the border or managed isolation is yet to be established”.
It stated ministers would meet later Tuesday to figure out how to respond to New Zealand’s 1st neighborhood case due to the fact February 28.
“A hard and early response is the best tool to stamp out any potential spread and everyone in New Zealand is asked to stay calm, be kind and play their part while we gather more information on the potential case,” the division stated.
Further particulars of the case had been not released.
New Zealand has won widespread praise for its coronavirus response, recording just 26 deaths in a population of 5 million.
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