New Zealand is rolling out new COVID-19 restrictions because the nation works to stop an outbreak in instances pushed by the omicron variant.
Simply earlier than midnight on Sunday, New Zealand will transfer into its Crimson setting, triggering a lot of mitigation measures to tame the unfold of the virus, in accordance with a assertion from the federal government.
People within the nation can be required to put on masks in public venues and on public transportation and bodily distance when attainable. Non-public gatherings in properties that observe vaccine move rules can be restricted to 100 folks, whereas conferences at different venues can be curbed at 100 folks primarily based on 1 meter of doctor distancing.
Different gatherings, nonetheless, can be capped at 25 folks.
The brand new restrictions come after New Zealand reported 9 new instances within the Nelson/Marlborough area, all of which had been the omicron variant.
The instances had been amongst a household that flew to Auckland on Jan. 13 for a marriage and different occasions. The nation stated early estimates consider that not less than 100 folks had been on the gatherings.
A flight attendant on the aircraft from Auckland to Nelson with the contaminated household has since examined optimistic for COVID-19. The nation stated that flight attendant went on to work 4 flights whereas contaminated, with departures between Jan. 16 and Jan. 20
Moreover, a visitor on the household occasion has since examined optimistic.
“Complete genome sequencing is urgently being carried out however we’re treating this because the Omicron variant,” the authorities stated in a press release.
New Zealand largely tamed the unfold of the delta variant, with roughly 30 new instances reported per day, in accordance with The Related Press. Day by day instances, nonetheless, began to rise in October, in accordance with information compiled by the World Well being Group.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern emphasised on Thursday that the nation wouldn’t impose strict lockdowns to cease the unfold of the omicron variant.
She did, nonetheless, reveal on Sunday that she had canceled her marriage ceremony, in accordance with Reuters.
