New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Monday that level 3 coronavirus restrictions in Auckland will be extended until Sunday, August 30, after the country reported eight new cases on Monday.
“The Director-General (of Health) has recommended to Cabinet, and Cabinet has agreed to adjust a short extension of level 3 restrictions in Auckland to 11:59 pm this Sunday, August 30,” Ardern said at a news conference.
“This is a contained cluster, but it’s our largest, which means the tail will be long and the cases will keep coming for a while.”
Ardern said Auckland, the country’s most populous city, will change downwards to a changed level 2 setting after the extended period of level 3 restrictions ends on Sunday.
The rest of New Zealand will remain at level 2 restrictions. The current restrictions with Auckland at level 3 and the rest of the country at level 2 were originally set to be lifted at midnight on Wednesday.
“Our ongoing goal is to maintain our elimination strategy while striving to reduce the impact on as many people and businesses as possible,” Ardern said.
“In our fight against this virus we have kept some records, now is the one we have to beat to be rebuilt, and if any country knows how to fight back it is us.”
Ardern also announced that use of masks as face covering will be mandatory on public transportation at alarm levels 2 or higher from next Monday.
What the restrictions mean: Under Level 3 restrictions, public locations such as museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, swimming pools, playgrounds and markets will remain closed. People need to stay within their immediate household bubble, but can expand this to make contact with close family, caregivers, or those who support isolation.
Under Level 2 restrictions, no more than 100 people can gather in one place at a given time.
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