New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced an alert-level 4 lockdown starting at 11.59pm tonight for seven days in Auckland and Coromandel, and three days elsewhere.
Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield briefed media after a Cabinet meeting on the covid-19 community case identified in Auckland today.
The Ministry of Health announced about 2.30pm today a new case had been found in the community in Auckland, saying a link between the case and the border or managed isolation had not been established.
Health officials had been interviewing the case so contacts could be traced and any locations of interest identified.
This evening health officials released five locations of interest in the Coromandel, which has been published on the Ministry of Health website.
In announcing the government’s decision, Ardern said going hard and early had worked before and that the delta variant was harder to combat.
Dr Bloomfield said they were assuming it was the delta variant. The man, a 58-year-old male from Devonport, on Auckland’s North Shore, lives with his wife.
She was tested yesterday and returned a negative test.
Vaccinations have also been paused for 48 hours.
Dr Bloomfield thanked the person who tested positive for going for a test and emphasised that although the man was not vaccinated, he had been booked in.
Watch the media briefing here. Video: RNZ News
Ardern said it had not been a matter of if but when the variant arrived in the community.
“I want to assure New Zealand that we have planned for that eventuality and that we will now be putting in place that plan to contain and stamp out covid-19 once again,” Ardern said.
“Going hard and early has worked for us before, while we know that delta is a more dangerous enemy to combat the same actions that overcame the virus last year can be applied to beat it again.”
The couple visited Coromandel last week, Dr Bloomfield said. They returned on August 15.
The man is a frequent user of the covid-19 tracer app.
Five locations of interest in Coromandel
Locations of interest have been identified in both Coromandel and in Auckland.
The contact tracing locations of interest include Star and Garter Hotel, Umu Cafe, BP Gas Station on Tiki Rd and Taras Beads. The man visited them between August 13 and 15.
Current locations of interest in New Zealand
Further locations between Coromandel and Auckland are likely to be identified.
Dr Bloomfield said there would be additional testing centres in Auckland tomorrow and all district health boards would ensure efficient testing capacity.
Last wastewater testing on North Shore on August 11 has returned negative results.
“This case was identified in Auckland but it is a national issue,” Dr Bloomfield said.
Ardern said New Zealand was one of the last countries to experience a case of delta. It was a “game changer” and the country only had one chance to get on top of it, she said.
“We have made decisions on the basis it is better to start high then go down levels,” she said.
New Zealand had seen overseas the consequences of not acting quickly enough, she added.
Lift our game
The underlying principal of level 4 was to reduce contact to a bare minimum, Ardern said.
“Beating delta means lifting our game,” she said. “I ask New Zealanders to please follow the rules to the letter.”
People must stay at home in level 4, only leaving for essential services, she said. “And if you undertake these activities, please wear a mask when you leave your house.”
“Stay 2m away from anyone you pass, don’t congregate and don’t stop to talk to your neighbours,” she said.
“We know from evidence overseas, that the delta variant can spread just by walking past someone.
“If you are completely isolated or live alone, remember you can join a bubble with one other person…it must just be one other person though.”
The public can drive locally to essential services, such as the supermarket, but need to stay 2m away from others and wear a mask. The public are asked to wear a mask when they go out anywhere.
“Remember to always act like you have covid-19. Stay clear of others and don’t put them in harm’s way,” Ardern said.
The government will provide the necessary financial support over the coming period.
Vaccinations suspended
Ardern said vaccinations would be suspended for 48 hours, but vaccinated people must follow the rules like everybody else.
Dr Bloomfield echoed her warning and said even with high vaccination rates, the country would still need to have public health measures in place.
Health officials will be looking at what extra protocols might need to be put in place before the vaccination campaign resumes.
Dr Bloomfield said it was reassuring wastewater testing in Auckland last week did not show any signs of covid-19, which indicated infection was not widespread.
Dr Bloomfield says the most important thing is to stop the outbreak, which requires stopping people’s movement.
Ardern and Dr Bloomfield will provide another media update at 1pm tomorrow.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
