New Zealand extends coronavirus lockdown amid Delta variant outbreak

New Zealand’s strict nationwide lockdown has been prolonged by a minimum of one other week amid a rising coronavirus outbreak.

The shutdown will final till a minimum of Friday after well being authorities detected 35 new native infections of the fast-spreading Delta variant.

That is the very best variety of day by day Covid-19 circumstances within the nation since April final 12 months and takes the full variety of circumstances in New Zealand to 107.

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, stated “extra certainty” was wanted as she introduced the lockdown would proceed till a minimum of the tip of the month in Auckland the place a lot of the circumstances have been discovered.

“We do want extra data,” stated the prime minister. “We don’t need to take any dangers with Delta.”

She added: “If the world has taught us something, it’s to be cautious with this variant of Covid-19.”

Ms Ardern stated modelling instructed the outbreak ought to peak in just a few days’ time after which decline.

Well being authorities stated they’ve discovered hyperlinks amongst most of these circumstances, giving them hope they will quash the outbreak.

One of many causes lockdowns are thought of important in New Zealand is as a result of inoculation charges stay low, with solely about 20 per cent of individuals absolutely vaccinated.

The strict lockdown means most individuals should stay at residence, leaving solely to purchase groceries or drugs or to train.

Ms Ardern additionally introduced the federal government had determined to droop common parliament classes for per week, a transfer that drew criticism from opposition politicians.

Judith Collins, the chief of the opposition, criticised the transfer. “At a time when New Zealanders have the harshest lockdown on the earth and have misplaced our freedoms due to the federal government’s failure to vaccinate and safe the border, this transfer by Jacinda Ardern is unfathomable,” she stated.

Whereas New Zealand maintains its technique of attempting to wipe out the virus utterly by way of lockdowns, neighbouring Australia seems to have conceded that lockdowns won’t be able to remove the Delta variant completely and might solely sluggish its unfold.

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison stated lockdowns had been “not a sustainable approach to dwell on this nation”. He stated states should open their borders as soon as vaccination charges attain 80 per cent of the inhabitants aged 16 years and older. His remarks got here as an outbreak in Sydney grew by greater than 800 circumstances, close to report ranges.