![]() … Right now we have a window of opportunity to break the chain of community transmission, to contain the virus, to stop it multiplying, and to protect New Zealanders from the worst. If that happens unchecked, our health system will be inundated, and tens of thousands of New Zealanders will die. If community transmission takes off in New Zealand, the number of cases will double every five days. At a press conference announcing the change, Ardern explained the reason for the looming lockdown:Į now consider there is transmission within our communities. The decision came after public health officials were unable to trace the source of two cases of community transmission. Under level 4 restrictions, all New Zealanders were instructed to stay at home and to have physical contact only with those in their ‘bubble’. Two days later, as total confirmed and probable cases doubled to 173, Ardern announced that the country would move immediately to Alert Level 3, to be followed two days later by a move to Alert Level 4, the highest level. The country immediately moved to Alert Level 2, which required New Zealanders to stay at home as much as possible, including by working from home and limiting non-essential travel. On the same day, in a historic address to the nation, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern introduced a new four-level alert system which restricted human contact, travel and business operations. By Saturday 21 March, the total number of confirmed and probable cases had reached 88. As the number of local coronavirus cases grew, the government introduced measures to control the spread of the virus. New Zealand had reported its first case of the virus on 28 February, 12 days before the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global pandemic. Those arriving were required to self-isolate for 14 days. On 19 March, for the first time in the country’s history, the government closed the borders to anyone who wasn’t a citizen, permanent resident, or their partner or child (who could enter New Zealand only if travelling with them). Entry into the country from overseas virus hotspots was restricted, while New Zealanders stranded overseas struggled to return home as flights were cancelled and airlines suspended services. ![]() ![]() As the global situation deteriorated, international travel became increasingly fraught. on Wednesday 25 March 2020, New Zealand entered a nationwide lockdown designed to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus around the country.ĬOVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), a new type of coronavirus affecting the respiratory system, had begun spreading around the world in January and February, quickly overwhelming health systems and causing widespread loss of life. ![]()
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