New Zealand sees major jump in COVID numbers
Print Edition
New Zealand鈥檚 coronavirus cases jumped yesterday, as questions grew about the government鈥檚 response to the pandemic given the slowest vaccination rate among developed countries and the economic pressures of prolonged isolation.
Eleven new cases were reported yesterday, taking the total to 21 in the latest outbreak that ended the country鈥檚 six-month, virus-free run.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the virus has not been in the community for long as authorities had linked its origin to a returnee from Sydney on August 7.
鈥淭his is a significant development. It means now we can be fairly certain how and when the virus entered the country,鈥 Ardern told a news conference.
鈥淎nd the period in which cases were in the community was relatively short.鈥
New Zealanders had been living without curbs until Ardern ordered a snap 3-day nationwide lockdown on Tuesday after a case was found in the largest city Auckland, the first in the country since February.
Ardern, who shut the country鈥檚 borders in March 2020, had announced plans for a gradual reopening this month following pressure from businesses and public sectors facing worker shortages that policymakers fear will fuel inflation.
The new cases may delay those plans and are causing concern in the nation, which has struggled to get its population vaccinated.
Only about 23 percent of its 5 million people have been fully vaccinated, the lowest rate among the 38 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
鈥淚t鈥檚 no longer clear Jacinda Ardern鈥檚 strategy is the right one,鈥 read one opinion piece in the New Zealand Herald.
Opposition National Party leader Judith Collins labelled the vaccination rollout a failure. Experts also said vaccinating everyone was the way to return to some normalcy.
鈥淭he virus is out there. We cannot go on thinking we will keep it out forever,鈥 said immunologist Graham Le Gros, Director of Malaghan Institute of Medical Research and Programme Director at Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand.
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