Covid-19: New Zealand PM Ardern Gives Update on Restrictions as Delta Spreads

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern extended an Alert Level 3 lockdown in Auckland as the nation’s largest city continues to record new community cases of Covid-19, but presented a road-map for restrictions to be gradually eased over coming weeks.

“There are another 29 new community cases, 28 of which are in Auckland and one is in Hamilton East,” added Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield. “There are 3 other household members who have become cases that are linked to the Raglan case.”

Auckland will remain at Level 3, meaning people cannot leave the city and should stay at home where possible, for at least another week, Ardern said in Wellington. At the same time, she eased some rules around outdoor activities and said greater freedoms would be progressively restored as and when it was safe to do so.

“Today, based on public health advice, Cabinet confirmed its plan to transition Auckland out of current restrictions carefully and methodically, with regular check-ins to ensure we’re continuing to actively control the virus,” Ardern said. “Vaccines were always going to change the way we manage Covid-19 into the future, but our strategy has worked and will remain -- we want to control the virus, avoid cases and hospitalizations, enjoy our freedoms, and reconnect with the world.”

The extension of Level 3 restrictions in Auckland follows news that the outbreak has spread to the neighboring Waikato district, prompting a snap lockdown in fourth-largest city Hamilton.

Bloomberg Quicktake brings you live global news and original shows spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world.

Connect with us on…

[MakerBees]

It is super impressive how they can ‘effectively’ control COVID through unilateral government action and rules but they still cannot manage a TelePrompTer. Instead it looks like she is reading a Eulogy on the rest of New Zeelands rights for the rest of NZ’s existence.

[homiedclown]

The only product in history whose failure is blamed on those who didn’t use it

[frankthecat]

If you can’t see what they are doing you aren’t paying attention.

[librarynan]

Sounds like all these restrictions just do not work.

[shonuff]

Sad and scary to see New Zealanders are willingly going along with this.

[mrsilverblack]

MARK OF THE BEAST AGENDA IN FULL EFFECT!!!

[jefferyczernecki]

Remember who was involved in these crimes!

[Raison_d-etre]

With over half of NYC's population, New Zealand has seen as many cases in this pandemic as NYC has seen in the last 4 days.

[theobell]

Enough new Zealand! Stand up and fight and you may not die laying down for them!

[ThePitGoJoe]

The lethal influenza pandemic that struck New Zealand between October and December 1918 killed about 9000 people in two months. No other event has claimed so many New Zealand lives in such a short time. The 1918 influenza pandemic was commonly referred to as 'the Spanish flu', but it did not originate in Spain.

9000 is 0.78260869565217% of 1, 150, 000 <-- population in 1918.
2020 - 2021 coff 19 deaths
27 is 0.00054% of 5, 000, 000.
Hardly a pandemic...

[MistressMary...-uj]

China owes the whole world and no one calls them out

[news_internationale]

Oooh sCaRy! Chuck Norris of the Delta Force is going to give a roundhouse kick!

[petersdinkladge]

There are pockets here in America that would support and help the people of new Zealand to take their country back

[velkatix]

Contain and control the virus. Lol tone def

[mrarmando]

These tyrants need to be removed what a bunch of hypocrite clowns!!!

[jakeroberts]

So what if she's got a pair banging around, but more deception?

[discovertheninthplanet]

Seems Ardern's elimination strategy for lockdowns will be phased out

[primuspilus]

'Let's Go Brandon!' (NZ Version)

[Chainyanker]

NZ is one of the few countries that has done a great job in controlling the pandemic.