Auckland, New Zealand’s main city, will be re-confined from Sunday for at least seven days after the discovery of new cases of Covid-19, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Saturday (February 27th) as the prestigious America’s Cup sailing is due to start there on March 6. This new confinement comes less than two weeks after a three-day confinement in this city of 1.7 million inhabitants.
From Sunday morning, Aucklanders will have to stay at home except for work or for basic necessities. Schools and non-essential stores will be closed. Entrances and exits from the city will be limited. The rest of the country will be subject to level 2 restrictions which prohibit gatherings of more than 100 people and require the wearing of masks on public transport.
Containment decided for a few cases
In Auckland, Jacinda Ardern clarified that a new case of coronavirus confirmed on Saturday constituted “A cause for concern” because it concerns a person contagious for a week and who has not isolated.
The previous lockdown, which was the first for nearly six months in Auckland, was introduced after the discovery of three cases in the city. Since then, several people with a connection to a school in the south of the city have reported symptoms.
According to Mme Ardern, the confirmed case cannot however be directly linked to other positive tests recorded for two weeks. The Prime Minister regretted that the epidemic is progressing due to the fact that people do not isolate themselves as they should. The last case concerns someone who saw his doctor on Friday and then went to a gym.
America’s Cup postponed for at least 4 days
The start of the America’s Cup between Team New Zealand and Italy’s Luna Rossa challenge in Auckland Bay was quickly postponed for at least four days, and could be longer. The first four regattas of this prestigious competition, which will be played in the best of 13 rounds, should have been held on March 6 and 7.
More “They will not take place before Wednesday March 10 at the earliest”, announced America’s Cup Events President Tina Symmans. This date was initially the one on which Rounds 5 and 6 were to be held. “We must take cognizance of all the probable scenarios in order to establish an updated schedule of events that meets all regulatory requirements”, she added.
New Zealand’s record in the fight against Covid-19 has been hailed around the world. In total, only 26 deaths have been attributed to Covid-19 in this country of five million inhabitants.
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