Reuters reported August 17, 2021, how a single Delta case caused a four-day New Zealand national lock down. This is not the first time Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has resorted to harsh measures to curb the virus. Although when one Delta case locks New Zealand down, she’s clearly playing hard early. And evidently determined to stop it in its tracks.
No Clear Trace Yet How the Infection Came About
This is the first internal New Zealand case since February 2021, since all others showed up at border points. The patient, who did not have the vaccine, fell ill on the east coast of North Island over the weekend. But he only advised his doctor Monday after he returned to Auckland city.
Business Insider says he has no obvious tell-tale travel history, or known contact with any person away from New Zealand recently. Health officials are doing everything they can to unravel the mystery, while they wait for genome genetic sequencing to report in. This will tell them more about the virus characteristics, and help glean clues from pandemic records.
How the Delta Case Locked New Zealand Down
Prime Minister Jacinda Arden’s decision to ‘go hard, go early’ means the toughest four-day lock down among New Zealand’s options. Citizens are scrambling to secure essential resources. Auckland city is facing a longer seven days with businesses and offices closed.
Residents may only leave their homes for exercise, supermarket shopping, essential medical care including pharmacy visits, and for getting a test. Masks are mandatory. The decision to lock New Zealand down hard after a single Delta case reflects the prime minister’s concern. ‘The best we can do is get out of this quickly,’ she told a news conference.
‘We have made the decision on the basis that it is better to start high and go down levels,’ she added. ‘Rather than to go low, not contain the virus and see it move quickly.’ This strategy forms a strong contrast with other nations, where leaders tread more cautiously. We wish New Zealand success with their strategy across the seas.
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