New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has placed Auckland on lockdown beginning August 12 following four new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country’s biggest city.
This is after the country has recorded no new transmissions for the past 102 days, setting a global benchmark on how to mitigate the spread of the virus through fast response and strict measures.
A photo shared by Auckland-based Filipina Glaiza Ibarra to The Filipino Times also showed the SMS announcement of the government regarding the new lockdown measures, as well as people doing last-minute shopping prior to the implementation of the lockdown.
Residents in the city are now advised to work from home except for those working on essential sectors. Schools, bars, cafes, and restaurants will also be closed until the end of the week.
“We’re asking people in Auckland to stay home to stop the spread. Act as if you have COVID, and as though people around you have COVID,” Ardern said.
The new cases are all members of the same family, as per local reports. It is not yet clear how they got infected.
The World Health Organization commended New Zealand for its efficient measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. It was one of the few nations in the world that were able to restart its economy and normal operations, while maintaining strict border controls.
READ ALSO: New Zealand now ‘virus-free’; lifts social distancing restrictions, allows mass gathering
