New Zealand reports 10 COVID cases, some linked to Sydney outbreak
Jacinda Ardern says genome sequencing confirmed NZ’s COVID-19 outbreak originated in Australia.
New Zealand’s first coronavirus outbreak in six months has grown to a total of 10 people, one of which is a worker at Auckland City Hospital.
Key points:
- Health authorities initially reported seven new cases before announcing an additional three infections
- Nine cases are linked to the community while the remaining is linked to the border
- Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said three cases were linked to the Sydney outbreak
Having previously reported seven people with COVID-19, the nation’s health authorities announced a further three infections late on Wednesday to take the case count into double figures.
Nine of these cases have been linked to other community cases and the remaining case has been linked to the border, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
Earlier, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said genome sequencing showed three of the cases were linked to the current outbreak in Sydney, although it’s not yet clear how the virus breached New Zealand’s border quarantine controls.
In a press conference, Ms Adern said the government expected the number of cases to keep growing in the coming days, especially after some of those infected spent time at a church, a school, a casino and a hospital.
She announced a new mandate compelling people to wear masks in supermarkets, gas stations and pharmacies.
Dr Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand director-general of health, said the country can expect 50-100 cases in the latest outbreak.
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New Zealand was plunged into a lockdown yesterday, after its first positive case, for at least three days across the country, and for at least one week in Auckland and Coromandel.
Six positive cases were announced on Wednesday morning, including a man and woman in their early 20s, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health said.
One of the new cases is a workmate of yesterday’s confirmed case and another is a fully vaccinated health worker at Auckland City Hospital who had been working recently.
There is limited movement within the hospital and patients and colleagues are being tested.
Staff who worked on the same ward will be isolated.
All cases have now been confirmed as having the Delta variant and are linked to the original case reported yesterday.
“But I want to reassure people — the best place we can be right now is level 4, and that these measures have worked before and will work again.”
ABC
