Lockdown of New Zealand’s largest city to end this month

Wellington Nov 8 (BUS): The lockdown of New Zealand’s largest city is likely to end later this month, with some coronavirus restrictions easing from Tuesday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

Auckland was closed for nearly three months following the outbreak of the Delta variant. The Associated Press (AP) reports that the outbreak has grown to more than 4,500 cases with about 150 new infections reported each day for the past week.

Ardern said Monday that the city’s improved vaccination rate among people 12 and older means it may continue to scale back restrictions.

“Oakland hit 90 percent of the first dose and 80 percent of the second dose over the weekend, and is now weeks away from 90 percent of a double dose,” Ardern said. “And so, while we are continually raising these rates, we are facilitating the reopening process.”

From tomorrow, retail stores and malls can reopen in Auckland, along with libraries, museums and zoos. Outdoor gatherings will be increased from a maximum of 10 people to 25 people.

Other facilities such as gyms and movie theaters will remain closed, and many Aucklanders will continue to work from home.

Ardern had previously said the city would be able to move out of its lockdown and into its new traffic light system — where red, orange and green indicate the spread of the virus and corresponding health risks — once 90 percent of eligible people have received their full vaccination.

“Oakland has worked hard to raise their vaccination rates, and they deserve to be able to act once they reach those goals regardless of what happens in the rest of the country.”

But it was unclear when the border between Auckland and other parts of New Zealand would be reopened, with vaccinations delayed in some parts of the country.

Ardern said she will make an announcement about the border next week. She said Aucklanders would be able to travel for their summer holidays over the Christmas holidays.

MI