Lockdown extended in New Zealand

The New Zealand government said on Monday that it would continue the nationwide lockdown to contain the growing outbreak of the coronavirus until at least Friday.

This news has come to the fore after health officials informed about 35 new cases of ‘delta’ form of COVID-19. This is the highest number of cases reported in New Zealand in a single day since April last year. Cases started increasing last week and so far 107 cases have been reported in the country.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the lockdown would continue until at least the end of this month in Auckland, where most cases have been reported.

Jacinda Ardern said, “We have yet to find out more. We need to be more relaxed. We don’t want to be careless about the ‘Delta’ form. This is what the world has taught us to be cautious about this form of COVID-19.

Ardern also announced that the government had decided to suspend the regular parliament session for a week. Opposition MPs have criticized the move.

Meanwhile, it seems that neighboring Australia believes that the lockdown will not be able to end the ‘delta’ pattern completely. This can only slow its spread.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the lockdown is “not a permanent way to live in the country.” He said states should open their borders once the vaccination rate for the population aged 16 and older reaches 80 percent.

His statement came at a time when Sydney had the highest number of more than 800 cases. Health officials said that 71 cases were reported in Melbourne, 16 in Canberra. There is a lockdown in all three cities. At the same time, there is no case of community transmission of infection in Western Australia. About 24 percent of Australia’s population has been fully vaccinated.