On August 18, New Zealand experienced its first community infection of the new coronavirus in six months and immediately implemented a lockdown. This time, the infection spread due to the Delta strain, and the number of new infections on August 26 was 68. 263 cases were confirmed in Auckland on the North Island, and 14 cases in the capital, Wellington, bringing the total number of infections in the country since last week to 277.
The government has decided to extend the lockdown, which was originally scheduled for three days, until Friday the 27th. All businesses and schools are closed, except for the bare minimum of commercial and public facilities such as supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and hospitals. Given the current spread of infection, it is likely that the lockdown will be extended again.
Revealing locations visited by positive cases
New Zealand has tracked the movements of people who have tested positive and published a list of 495 places they have visited, along with instructions on what to do if they have visited any of the places on the list.For example, if you were in a lecture room at the University of Auckland from 12:00 to 14:00 on August 13th,
"Self-isolate at home for 14 days. Get tested immediately, then get tested again in five days and 12 days. Call the healthline and follow their instructions."
That's what I said.
In some places, it's not segregation.
"Watch for symptoms for 14 days, and get tested immediately if symptoms appear."
This also applies to instructions such as:
Currently, 2,442 close contacts have been identified, of which 65% have already been contacted or self-isolated. In addition, genome analysis of 154 of the positive cases has been completed, and all have been confirmed to be related to the current cluster.
Arguing for the effectiveness of lockdowns
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern pointed out that although the confirmed cases have visited nearly 500 locations, only 13 of them have confirmed cases, and emphasized that New Zealanders are complying with the lockdown.
Lockdown is having a big impact
He commented.
However, they expressed concern that this Delta strain was very troublesome,
The current number of positive cases is not unexpected. We need to be more vigilant. The Delta virus has changed the COVID-19 situation.
He said it would take some time for the number of positive cases to decrease.
On the night of the day that she announced the extension of the lockdown, Prime Minister Ardern streamed a Facebook Live broadcast from her home in plain clothes. She spoke about the lockdown extension in her own words and answered questions. She also spoke about the importance of vaccines and called for people to get vaccinated. She streamed alone, with no staff present. This is something only Prime Minister Ardern, who has never made a careless remark, could do.
Missed the Paralympic Opening Ceremony
The Paralympics began on August 24th in Japan, amid a rise in infections. New Zealand also sent a delegation to Japan. 29 athletes and 37 support staff arrived in Tokyo.
However, he did not attend the opening ceremony held on August 24th, citing "thorough measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of athletes and related parties."
Instead, only the New Zealand delegation gathered to celebrate the opening ceremony. Instead of the flag-bearer position that would normally be held at the opening ceremony, two athletes, Sophie Pascoe and William Stedman, were selected as leaders of the delegation.View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Pascoe will represent New Zealand in swimming. She has won nine gold medals and six silver medals, the most of any New Zealand para athlete. Steadman won two bronze medals in the 400m and 800m at the last Rio Paralympics. Both are athletes to watch.
Pascou became New Zealand's first medal winner at the Paralympics! He won a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke! This is New Zealand's 16th medal in the 4th Paralympics, from Beijing in 2008 to London and Rio.
View this post on Instagram
