Auckland to remain at alert level 2.5 until at least 16 September: PM Ardern
Auckland will remain at alert level 2.5 for more than another week, the Prime Minister has confirmed.
At this afternoon's briefing, Jacinda Ardern said the current levels will remain until Cabinet reviewed the situation again on Monday 14 September.
If in that time a change to alert levels is made, it will take effect from 11.59pm on Wednesday 16 September, Ardern said.
The Auckland region is currently at alert level 2.5, which was due to expire on Sunday. At present Aucklanders can travel outside the region, though social gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people, with 50 allowed for authorised funerals and tangihanga. The rest of the country is at level 2.
Ardern said containment of the cluster, compliance to the rules and the impact of restrictions were considered by Cabinet.
"The best economic response becomes the best health response," Ardern said.
She said that because the source of the Auckland cluster was still not identified, it gave the government cause to be cautious.
There was still a risk of spread to other parts of the country, such as happened in Tokoroa, which was a good reason to maintain the rest of the country on alert level 2.
"If that does happen, level 2 settings lessen the impact of any spread and avoids any further fallout."
Ardern said the Auckland cluster remained contained and there was no indication at this stage that Auckland needed to move back to level 3.
She says evidence suggested the country could have some confidence, but caution was still being urged.
"The reality is that we will need to be dealing with it (the virus) in a number of ways."
She said Melbourne still provided a striking example of moving too quickly.
"We are on the most perilous part of our journey."
Nearly 300,000 Covid-19 tests have been taken since the cluster was detected, including 67,660 in the past week - 61,800 in the community, 3587 border workers and 2213 staying in managed isolation facilities.
Since the move to level 2.5 in Auckland there have been another 30 community cases - all associated with the cluster. All are in isolation, as were people detected as close contacts
"All cases stem from a single index case," Ardern said.
A testing station will shortly be available at Botany Town Centre and places of worship, she said. There will also be health professionals available at the domestic terminal at Auckland Airport.
Police will also be highly visible in the community to enforce the rules over the weekend, the prime minister said.
Half of New Zealand was now using the QR posters, she said, and it was pleasing to see the widespread use of masks.
"So let's double down our efforts," she said.
Three new community cases were reported today, all linked to the Auckland cluster.
Auckland will remain at alert level 2.5 for more than another week, the Prime Minister has confirmed.
At this afternoon's briefing, Jacinda Ardern said the current levels will remain until Cabinet reviewed the situation again on Monday 14 September.
If in that time a change to alert levels is made,...
Auckland will remain at alert level 2.5 for more than another week, the Prime Minister has confirmed.
At this afternoon's briefing, Jacinda Ardern said the current levels will remain until Cabinet reviewed the situation again on Monday 14 September.
If in that time a change to alert levels is made, it will take effect from 11.59pm on Wednesday 16 September, Ardern said.
The Auckland region is currently at alert level 2.5, which was due to expire on Sunday. At present Aucklanders can travel outside the region, though social gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people, with 50 allowed for authorised funerals and tangihanga. The rest of the country is at level 2.
Ardern said containment of the cluster, compliance to the rules and the impact of restrictions were considered by Cabinet.
"The best economic response becomes the best health response," Ardern said.
She said that because the source of the Auckland cluster was still not identified, it gave the government cause to be cautious.
There was still a risk of spread to other parts of the country, such as happened in Tokoroa, which was a good reason to maintain the rest of the country on alert level 2.
"If that does happen, level 2 settings lessen the impact of any spread and avoids any further fallout."
Ardern said the Auckland cluster remained contained and there was no indication at this stage that Auckland needed to move back to level 3.
She says evidence suggested the country could have some confidence, but caution was still being urged.
"The reality is that we will need to be dealing with it (the virus) in a number of ways."
She said Melbourne still provided a striking example of moving too quickly.
"We are on the most perilous part of our journey."
Nearly 300,000 Covid-19 tests have been taken since the cluster was detected, including 67,660 in the past week - 61,800 in the community, 3587 border workers and 2213 staying in managed isolation facilities.
Since the move to level 2.5 in Auckland there have been another 30 community cases - all associated with the cluster. All are in isolation, as were people detected as close contacts
"All cases stem from a single index case," Ardern said.
A testing station will shortly be available at Botany Town Centre and places of worship, she said. There will also be health professionals available at the domestic terminal at Auckland Airport.
Police will also be highly visible in the community to enforce the rules over the weekend, the prime minister said.
Half of New Zealand was now using the QR posters, she said, and it was pleasing to see the widespread use of masks.
"So let's double down our efforts," she said.
Three new community cases were reported today, all linked to the Auckland cluster.
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