New Zealand rolling out new COVID-19 restrictions

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 Purple setting, triggering various mitigation measures to tame the unfold of the virus, in line with a press release from the federal government.

People within the nation might be required to put on masks in public venues and on public transportation and bodily distance when doable. Personal gatherings in properties that comply with vaccine cross laws might be restricted to 100 folks, whereas conferences at different venues might be curbed at 100 folks based mostly on 1 meter of doctor distancing.

Different gatherings, nevertheless, might 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 mentioned early estimates imagine that at the very least 100 folks had been on the gatherings.

A flight attendant on the aircraft from Auckland to Nelson with the contaminated household has since examined constructive for COVID-19. The nation mentioned 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 constructive.

“Entire genome sequencing is urgently being carried out however we’re treating this because the Omicron variant,” the authorities mentioned in a press release.

New Zealand largely tamed the unfold of the delta variant, with roughly 30 new instances reported per day, in line with The Related Press. Every day instances, nevertheless, began to rise in October, in line 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, nevertheless, reveal on Sunday that she had canceled her marriage ceremony, in line with .