Wellington Oct 8 (BUS): Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hepkins announced Friday that more parts of New Zealand will be placed under strict Covid-19 restrictions overnight.
Auckland, the country’s largest city, is under restrictions after one case was discovered on August 18. The number of outbreaks so far has reached 1,492.
Hepkins said a positive case was detected in Northland, north of Auckland at the top of the North Island.
Hepkins said the area would be subject to restrictions, although it was unusual for a single case restriction to be imposed.
“However, it is critical that we get ahead of any potential spread, develop widespread testing and continue efforts to trace contacts.”
Businesses will have to move to contactless commerce, and educational centers will be closed, although most are already closed due to school holidays.
He said the restrictions would be reviewed on Monday.
About 81 percent of the country’s eligible population have received their first dose of the vaccine, with 53 percent of fully vaccinated, the German news agency dpa said.
Twenty-five cases were detected in Waikato, south of Auckland, which was closed on Sunday.
New Zealand has a population of 5 million and has reported around 4,150 cases of Covid-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic with 28 deaths.
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