New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Tuesday, August 11, that authorities have found four new coronavirus cases, ending the country's 102-day streak of stamping the virus out.
The four new cases were found in a household in Auckland, the metropolitan city in the country's North Island. According to the New Zealand PM's announcement, the source remains unknown as it marks the first cases of local transmission in the South Pacific nation after 102 days.
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"Go Hard, Go Early"
In the adoption of its earlier strategy that led to the country having no new cases for the last 102 days, the country is set to put the city of Auckland in another lockdown. New Zealand's biggest city will be temporarily closed starting at midday on Wednesday, August 12.
According to Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield, the new cases were confirmed after a person in their 50s went for a check-up on Monday, August 10. The Auckland person exhibited symptoms of the contagious disease and was swabbed twice - both to positive results. Six other individuals were tested from the same household, revealing three more positive cases.
The four new cases are now believed to be from the same family, with the first individual in his 50s and preschool-age children.
As Auckland moves to Alert Level 3, the rest of New Zealand will be moving back to Alert Level 2. Citizens from Auckland will be expected to work from home, except for essential workers. Schools, bars, cafes, restaurants, and other establishments will be temporarily closed.
"We're asking people in Auckland to stay home to stop the spread," Ardern said in the televised press conference. "Act as if you have COVID, and as though people around you have COVID. Act as if you have COVID, and as though people around you have COVID."
A Global Model for Coronavirus Response
The country has recently announced that it already has 100 days without newly recorded cases of coronavirus community transmission last Sunday, August 9. It was primarily credited to the country's swift response to the case and its decision-making process guided by scientific findings.
New Zealand was the first to close its borders to travelers from China, whose city Wuhan is believed to be the cause of the virus that caused the global pandemic. Nationals that were from the mainland were immediately subjected to a 14-day quarantine.
In March, all travelers entering the country, regardless of origin, were required to self-isolate for 14 days. New Zealand also devised a numbered alert system, with Alert Level 4 being the most severe.
From its first recorded case on February 26, the country managed to virtually eliminate coronavirus within 65 days, with the last reported positive being on May 1, before returning earlier this week.
Dr. Bloomfield has previously said in a press release from the World Health Organization that their government is guided by public health advice, technical guidance, and risk assessments. Dr. Takeshi Kasai, WHO Western Pacific Regional Director, also commended the South Pacific nation for "strong testing, contact tracing, clinical management of those infected, and clear and regular public communication."
Watch New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's press conference below:
