Wellington: New Zealand arranged to face the new Covid-19 restriction after nine cases of omicron variants detected in one family that flew to Auckland for the wedding earlier this month, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Sunday.
The so-called “red settings” of the country’s pandemic response includes high steps such as masks needed to wear and limit at meetings, and restrictions will take effect on Monday.
Ardern stressed that “Red is not locked,” noting that businesses can remain open and people can still visit family and friends and move freely throughout the country.
“Our plan to manage the Omicron case at the initial stage remains the same as Delta, where we will test quickly, contact the trail and isolate cases and contacts to slow down the spread,” Ardern told reporters in Wellington on Sunday.
New Zealand has been among the remaining several countries to avoid the Omicron variant outbreak, but Ardern acknowledged last week that the outbreak was unavoidable considering the transmission of high variants.
This country has succeeded in containing the distribution of Delta variants, with an average of around 20 new cases every day.
But have seen the increasing number of people who come to the country and go to the compulsory quarantine that is infected with Omicron.
It has put tension on the quarantine system and encourages the government to limit access to citizens who return when deciding what to do to reopen the border, make many people want to return to New Zealand.
About 93% of New Zealand 12 years and above are fully vaccinated and 52% have a booster shot.
The country has just begun to vaccinate children aged between 5 and 11.
Families from Nelson-Marlborough regions attending weddings and other events while in Auckland, with estimates who suggested they come into contact with “more than 100 people on these events, “Ardern.
said.
“That means that Omicron is now circulating in Auckland and maybe the Nelson-Marlborough region if it’s not elsewhere,” he added.
Moving to red settings also impacts Ardern personally.
The prime minister plans to get married next weekend, but as a result of new restrictions on celebrations will be postponed.
“I only joined many New Zealand people who had such experience as a result of a pandemic and to anyone who was trapped in the scenario, I was very sorry,” he said.