New Zealand to Go Back into Lockdown After New COVID-19 Cases Recorded

On Tuesday, 11th of August, New Zealand recorded it’s first COVID-19 case in 102 days resulting in the entire country re-entering lockdown restrictions.

The first identified positive case was a person in their 50s who presented to an Auckland GP and has tested positive twice. Since then, three other family members of the person have also tested positive for COVID-19.

The Prime Minister Jacinda Adern, called an urgent Press conference late last night to announce the confirmed cases and said the nation is prepared to fight off the new outbreak.

The director general of health Ashley Bloomfield said the four confirmed cases are in one family, and the source of the transmission is unknown. As a result from midday, Wednesday 12th August, Auckland will be placed back into stage three lockdown restrictions and the rest of the country will enter stage two.

Auckland - Stage 3 Restrictions

Under these restrictions, there is a strict stay home order for Auckland residents, other than for essential movements, such as going to the supermarket or for local exercise. Social distancing is also to be implemented which means people will need to physically distance themselves 2m away from others in areas such as public transport, and 1m in environments like schools or workplaces.

Employees will need to work from home unless it is not possible, and although some businesses can stay open, employees will not be allowed to physically interact with customers at all.

Public venues including libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, playgrounds and markets will all close as soon as the lockdown begins.

Weddings, funerals and tangihanga — a traditional Maori funeral ceremony — can only be held with groups of up to 10 people who are physically distanced.

Healthcare will be limited to virtual, online consultations where possible and inter-regional travel will only be allowed for essential workers.

What the Stage 2 restrictions mean for the rest of the nation

Prime Minister Ardern also said the entire country, outside of Auckland, will be placed back under stage two lockdown restrictions as a precaution to limit any potential virus spread.

Under these restrictions, New Zealanders will need to adhere to social distancing rules, but can still have gatherings of up to 100 people.

Normally, stage two restrictions also allow for domestic travel, however the New Zealand government has urged people to avoid travel for at least the three days of Auckland's lockdown.

Weddings, birthdays, funerals and tangihanga outside of Auckland will also be strictly limited to no more than 100 people, and businesses can stay open as long as they distance customers and staff, and record the details of people entering for long periods of time.

Hospitality venues such as restaurants, pubs and bars can open but customers must be separated, seated and served by a single worker.

Sport and recreational activity is allowed in line with the 100-person gathering restriction and some public venues such as museums, libraries, cinemas, stadiums and pools can open at limited capacity.

The nation's healthcare and disability care service providers can continue to operate as normal, while schools, early learning centres and universities will stay open under distanced measures.

Currently these restrictions are set to be active for 3 days, with further announcements expected in this time.