Coronavirus Covid 19: Auckland at level 3 lockdown; rest of the country at level 2

LAST VIRUS
* Revealed: All 21 Locations of Interest Visited by Three New Community Cases
* No need to rush the Aucklanders queue at supermarkets despite not needing
* ‘It’s a tough situation’: Prada Cup race postponed
* The Winning Formula: Experts Praise Quick Action, But Auckland Businesses Say It’s Heartbreaking
* The Three New Cases: What You Need to Know

Auckland is today at Covid-19 Alert Level 3 and the rest of New Zealand at Level 2 for at least three days after three positive tests from an Auckland family.

The country moved to the new alert levels at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, after a dramatic day of developments in the country’s fight against the deadly virus.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern chaired a press conference at 7 p.m. and said those alert levels would be reviewed every 24 hours, but that the planned three-day shutdown should allow the government to get more information on the new community outbreak.

LISTEN LIVE NEWSTALK ZB
5 am: Kate Hawkesby; 6 am-9am: Mike Hosking; 9 am-12pm: Kerre McIvor (Chris Lynch in Christchurch)

At the same time, Auckland will undergo a barrage of tests to find out how widespread the outbreak is.

Speaking to reporters, Ardern said the blockade was “the right thing to do.”

“I ask New Zealanders to remain strong and kind.”

She said we all had this feeling of “not again … but we will be fine”.

The three community cases announced earlier Sunday triggered the new alert level restrictions.

The new cases, a mother, father and daughter from Papatoetoe in South Auckland are considered “new and active”.

The source of the initial case, believed to be the mother, is still unknown.

But it is believed to be related to his work at LSG Sky chefs in Māngere, where he was in charge of washing clothes.

Ardern said the government was asking Auckland residents to “stay home” to stop the spread.

At 8.25 p.m. M., An automatic alert was sent to mobile phones across the country, warning of the closure.

In Auckland, Ardern said that people should work from home whenever possible.

And he asked that the children not go to school in Auckland.

For the rest of New Zealand, schools remain open.

The cabinet made the decision after an emergency meeting Sunday afternoon; it was a “cautious approach,” Ardern said.

Ardern said that “we have to act with a high degree of caution” and “act tough and early.”

LEVEL 3: Auckland
– Stay home and work remotely if possible
– Schools and nurseries open only to children of essential workers
– Meetings restricted to 10 people, but only for weddings and funerals
– Travel restrictions with borders around Auckland.
– Closed public places such as swimming pools and playgrounds

LEVEL 2: Rest of New Zealand
– People can still go to work.
– Schools and kindergarten remain open
– Meetings restricted to 100 people
– Auckland travel restricted

Supermarkets and gas stations will remain open, so “there was no need to rush to buy essentials.”

Public places, such as swimming pools and playgrounds, will be closed.

Meetings in Auckland are now reduced to 10 people, just for weddings and funerals. That means the Prada Cup races scheduled for Wednesday will be postponed.

Ardern said he did not know when the race would resume.

But on the facts, she was clear: “If you can, postponement is best at this time.”

Ardern confirmed that the police would set up barricades on the Auckland “border”; they will be in place this morning.

And he said that only people who returned home should go to Auckland. He advised his own Auckland MPs to stay in the city and not travel.

The cabinet will meet around noon today, with an update at around 4 pm, which would provide a “better picture” of the situation, Ardern said.

Ardern urged people to turn on the bluetooth function on their phone and “keep scanning.”

There would be wide-ranging testing in symptomatic people, he said.

But he said it wasn’t necessary for people with no symptoms to get tested.

He said he didn’t want people to “clog the system.”

Authorities are still investigating whether the family, who have moved into the Jet Park MIQ facility, had infected anyone else.

Bloomfield said more genomic tests for the three cases will be released shortly.

He added that officials were “working under the assumption” that the new cases were one of the new variants, such as the South African or British strains.

He said exposure through the mother’s workplace was the “most likely” way he would acquire Covid.

Ardern said the developments were an example of how “complicated Covid-19 has been.”

Meanwhile, Bloomfield said he would “assume” that the mother had been wearing PPE when she was doing the laundry.

Ardern said the woman was supposed to get tested every two weeks, which means they would have had it done on February 1, but at the time they were on annual leave.

This was something the government was investigating, he said.

Ardern said it was up to employers to ensure a regular testing cycle was maintained. Ardern said his expectation was for people to maintain their testing rotation.

Papatoetoe High, the school the daughter attends, will have a pop-up testing center today. The school is closed for education today and tomorrow.

That test site was only for people at the school, not for other people in the community, Ardern said.

Bloomfield asked anyone in the same location as the infected family members to isolate themselves and speak to Healthline. So far, twenty-one places and times of interest have been published.

They are the school, plus: BP Papakura, McDonalds Drury, Gas Piopio, Te Rewarewa Bridge, Sumela Kebab, Amber Court Motel, Pukekura Park, Egmont National Park, Cycle Inn New Plymouth, Puke Ariki Library and Museum, Pizza Hut New Plymouth , Back Beach, BP Breakwater Road, McDonalds Otorohanga, Pak’nSave Manukau, Chemist Warehouse Westfield Manukau, Bunnings Warehouse Manukau, Bunnings Warehouse Takanini, Bunnings Warehouse Botany, Ranfurly Skinny Superette.

Bloomfield said it was important for everyone in New Zealand to do their part at this time.

“Keep up the hard work,” he said.

Air New Zealand said last night that it had made a number of changes to its services as a result of the alert level changes.

Customers traveling to and from Auckland should verify that they are eligible to travel under the restrictions.

“Customers traveling from alert level 2 regions can transit Auckland on their way to other alert level 2 regions.

“Food and beverage service on board domestic flights had already been suspended in response to the latest community cases and this suspension will remain in effect until further notice. Water is available on request on all flights.

“Air New Zealand’s lounges and valet parking in Auckland will close [from Monday]. Due to capacity restrictions at alert level 2, the maximum number of people who can access the airline’s lounges in other regions is limited to 100.

“While the country is at high alert levels, Air New Zealand will take extra precautions to keep its staff and customers safe. Air New Zealand frontline personnel and cabin crew will wear masks and gloves and customers They should continue to use expensive liners on board.

“Customers with existing reservations between Monday February 15th and Sunday February 21st who wish to rebook for travel before Sunday March 7th will not have to pay any fare difference, and customers can call the contact center to arrange it.

In addition to this, customers who have a ticket for a domestic flight scheduled to depart until March 30, 2021 and no longer wish to travel can opt for a credit and can do so through the airline’s online booking tool.

“Customers unable to manage their booking online do not need to contact Air New Zealand immediately or prior to their flight departure, assistance will be provided at a later date to find an alternative flight option or a note can be arranged of credit”.