New Zealand’s lockdown to be extended 3 cases of Covid confirmed in Wellington
Total cases of Covid in New Zealand is 31
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern advised New Zealanders during her 3:00PM media briefing that the current Level 4 lockdown for the whole country would be extended until 11:59PM on Tuesday, 24 August 2021.
“We’ve got to be vigilant, we are not in a position to let anyone in the country to leave Level 4,” said the prime minister.
She would not confirm if the date for the lockdown would be extended beyond Tuesday night, however Ardern told the media that cabinet would meet on Monday, 23 August to decide whether Level 4 restrictions would be eased or extended.
“It is too soon to draw any reasonable conclusions,” Ardern said. “We still need to be very vigilant.”
“We are still waiting on a large number of tests to be returned which will help us know the extent of this outbreak,” Ardern said. “We do know we are dealing with an outbreak that is not isolated to Auckland, with cases in Wellington.”
The 3 cases confirmed in Wellington had all visited places of interest while in Auckland prior to the current lockdown commencing. One person flew to Wellington and the two others travelled by car. Flight details have not yet been released.
The Prime Minister urged New Zealanders to check locations of interest – if you were there at the time and date get tested.
Anyone with cold and flu symptoms should get a test and if you’re a contact please stay home and isolate, she urged.
“Everyone else should stay at home and stick to their bubble.”
“You must wear a mask at dairies and supermarkets – and when you leave your home generally”
Wash your hands and scan in when you visit an essential service, she said.
“Even though we all want to block out the memory of 2020, we have been here before and we know the elimination strategy works.”
“Everyone needs to play their part.”
Ministry of Health director general, Ashley Bloomfield confirmed there are 31 current cases and that public health teams are now interviewing those infected in Auckland and Wellington.
Bloomfield said that he advised cabinet to extend the Level 4 lockdown across the country. He said that it was too early to know if all of the people with Covid had been identified.
As of 2pm today, the director general advised 2363 people had been identified as contacts of this outbreak. This number does not include contacts of the central Auckland Church of Christ and Avondale College.
“If you were at a location of interest then you should get a test and isolate from others,” Bloomfield said.
As a reminder, it is mandatory for masks to be worn by anyone aged over 12 when visiting shops, petrol stations, pharmacies and other essential services. Staff in these places will also be required to wear a mask.
Mask wearing is mandatory for bus terminals and in taxis as well.
