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| A medical worker administers a COVID-19 test at a testing clinic during a lockdown to curb the spread of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Auckland, New Zealand, August 26, 2021. REUTERS / Fiona Goodall |
New Zealand reports 83 local cases of COVID-19 as Delta outbreak grows
Reuters
30/8/2021
Aug 29 (Reuters) – New Zealand reported 83 locally acquired cases of the highly infectious variant of the Delta coronavirus on Sunday, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying some changes to how the outbreak is handled could be announced on Monday.
Ardern extended the lockdown for the country by 5.1million on Friday until midnight on Tuesday, after which restrictions were to ease slightly. Auckland, however, which is the epicenter of the outbreak had to stay locked up longer read more
Ardern said his government was seeking more information on the spread of infections.
“If we need to further tighten our restrictions, we will,” she said in a televised briefing.
Of Sunday’s cases, 82 were reported in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, and the other in the capital, Wellington.
New Zealanders lived virtually virus-free and brakes-free until the August outbreak. So far, the country has recorded just over 3,100 confirmed cases of the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic and 26 related deaths, according to the health ministry.
Among the current community cases, 34 people were hospitalized and two of them in intensive care. There are 511 active community cases, including 496 in Auckland.
“Having positive cases in our communities, as well as the impact of blockages, I know, can be extremely disturbing, and that uncertainty can impact everyone’s mental health,” Ardern said, announcing Resources funding for mental health and urging people to seek help.
“So it’s normal to feel overwhelmed, to feel overwhelmed, or even to feel frustrated because this situation is often all of those things. “
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