New Zealand has announced an immediate closure after a man tested positive with Covid. The first case in six months was discovered in Auckland, which will be in lockdown for a week, while the rest of the country will be in solitary confinement for 3 days.
Authorities say they are working on the assumption of whether or not this is the first case of the Delta variant, as only about 20% of the population in the country has been fully vaccinated.
Coromandel, a coastal town that the infected person had visited, will also be closed for seven days.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the toughest "level 4" rules are required - closing schools, offices and all businesses with only essential services remaining operational.
"I want to assure New Zealand that we have planned for this occasion. Working early and very well has worked very well for us before," she said.
The patient, a 58-year-old man, is believed to have been infectious for about 1 week. There are at least 23 possible transmission locations.
During these days, there has been a higher number of purchases and consumers in supermarkets, because the locals predicted an immediate closure.
New Zealand has been successful in eliminating the virus within its borders, although its international borders remain largely closed. However, the vaccination program has ended at a slow pace, with only about 20% of people fully vaccinated and 33% of people receiving a dose, according to Our World in Data.
Source: BBC
