After Prime Minister Jacinda Adern made the decision to impose harsh restrictions on New Zealand, major events were cancelled across the country. This was due to nine Omicron cases.
New rules apply to all residents. These include restricting sporting fixtures and events to no more than 100 people starting Sunday at 11.59pm. Following the detection of Omicron-related cases in the locality,
Residents can still travel to New Zealand at the traffic lights, although they are restricted from visiting other homes. However, the My Vaccine Pass limits will apply for events like concerts and sporting matches.
As a result, major events including The Great Kiwi Beer Festival in Christchurch, the New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin and Auckland’s New Zealand Fashion Week have all been cancelled.
Fashion Week founder and managing director Dame Pieter Stewart stated that it was an ‘incredibly disappointing’ decision to cancel it, however she said it wasn’t feasible for designers to show a show in the limits of the government.
Sporting events, including Super Rugby games starting in February and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, due to start in March, face the prospect of being played without crowds.
Segolene de Fontenay, general manager of New Zealand Events Association, said that it was too early to predict how many events will be affected. It all depended on the length of time the country remains under red restrictions.
After a number of Omicron cases in a single family were discovered at a Auckland wedding, the latest restrictions came as a result.
New Zealand had 47 cases at its border and 24 in community during the most recent 24 hours. UK Health Security Agency data (UKHSA), where there have been fewer cases over recent weeks, shows that another 76.807 positive results were recorded within the last 24 hour.
New Zealand’s case, which was not linked to the border, led Ms Ardern, to say that she would postpone her wedding because she “wasn’t different to other New Zealanders”.
During a press conference, she said that’so is life’ and reiterated to journalists that she was not putting the country in lockdown.
“My wedding is not going ahead. But I join other New Zealanders that have experienced similar events as a consequence of the pandemic.”
Covid-19 incidences per 1 million in New Zealand and the UK, respectively. New restrictions were imposed after 9 Omicron cases.
Jacinda Adern, Prime Minister of New Zealand (pictured), has declared that all New Zealand will become eligible for the Code Red Covid starting at 11:59 on Sunday.
Residents can still travel to New Zealand at the traffic lights. However, the My Vaccine Pass limits will limit the number of people allowed in certain events, such as sporting matches, concerts and auctions.
Clarke Gayford and Ardern are pictured together. Clarke Gayford also confirmed that the wedding will be delayed due to the current outbreak.
Omicron spread in New Zealand and the events industry had prepared for new restrictions. However, the announcement came sooner than most expected.
Christchurch beer festival director Callam Mitchell said more than 10,000 tickets had already been sold for next weekend’s event when they were forced to cancel.
Segolene De Fontenay stated that the industry hoped the restrictions would not be too long and sharp, allowing them to guarantee events in April and subsequent months.
Ms Ardern was due to wed her television host fiancé Clarke Gayford this summer in Gisborne on the North Island after becoming engaged in early 2019.
Following the discovery of Omicron cases, nine were discovered in the community without any connection to the border.
Red isn’t locked down. Red businesses are always open so that people can travel around the country and visit family, as well as do their normal jobs.
‘One of the most important things that people can do is to make sure you and your family have a buddy – like a neighbour or a friend – who can help you out by delivering things that you need if you do become unwell.’
After confirming that her wedding was postponed, Ms Adern said to reporters: “Such is Life.”
My Vaccine Pass (New Zealand) will allow you entry to many locations. Pictured: Francis Kumu receives his Covid-19 vaccination
Recently, nine Omicron cases from the same community were discovered. There was no connection with the border.
These new infections were found in Nelson and Marlborough regions, meaning that there was community transmission in Auckland.
These cases were part of one family that flew in January to Auckland for a big wedding. A flight attendant was also infected.
Ms Ardern explained that there is no clear evidence yet to link the Index case with this family and the border. She also said she had not seen any Omicron cases.
New Zealand has reported 24 cases in the community and 47 cases at the border this Sunday. Eight people were admitted to hospital, and one was in ICU.
This is because nine Omicron cases from the same community were identified. There was no connection to the border. (See the photo, where people queue up to have their blood tested in New Zealand).
“At Red, businesses are open. You can do all the usual things, including visit family members and travel around the country,” the PM declared.
In order to be able to work in retail and hospitality, as well as schools and airports, masks will now be required.
Hospitality is allowed to be open but it will have a maximum of 100 guests. Patrons must show their passport to get vaccinated and remain seated.
Retail and public buildings also have capacity limits. However, it is encouraged to work remotely from your office.
New Zealand’s vaccine pass, called My Vaccine Pass will be required to gain entry into many locations.
For public or private gatherings, there will be a limit of 100 people who have been vaccinated and 25 others who are not.
The 2022 academic calendar year will not be affected by any changes, but all staff and students above the fourth grade must wear masks indoors.
Following her engagement in 2019, Ms. Ardern would marry Clarke Gayford (right), in Gisborne, North Island.
Ms Ardern said both the North and the South Islands would be under the red setting for ‘some weeks’ as the country enters the start of a new wave (pictured, people line-up for vaccines)
Ms. Ardern stated that there are no modifications to the scheduled February 28 international border reopening.
She stated that the Red Setting would cover both the North- and South Islands for several weeks as the country prepares to enter a new Covid Wave.
Omicron is a three-stage process that the government plans to prepare.
Phase I is available starting Monday, when cases are still below 1,000 per day. This phase involves encouraging booster vaccination shots and red-setting.
Ms Ardern stated that more information on phases two and three will be released later in the week. These would include large-scale rollouts of rapid antigen testing as the cases exceed the thousand mark, together with modifications to contact tracing.
Prime Minister said that it was vital residents come forward to get their booster shots in order to improve coverage prior the virus takes flight.
New Zealand has recorded 84 Covid new cases as of Saturday. 43 were in the community, and the other 41 were caught at the border. Protesters
Prime Minister said residents should come forward to get their booster shots in order for coverage to be increased before the virus takes flight (pictured: residents are tested in Wellington).
“Get Boosted” is the one task that she asked New Zealanders to do immediately.
“This decreases the chance of infection and allows for quicker treatment at hospital.”
It was only hours before it was made public. household contacts of Covid cases will have to isolate for 24 days under harsh new rules.
Ms. Ardern introduced the stringent measures to ensure that the country fights for Covid Zero, despite the danger posed by the contagious mutant strain.
Critics argued that the long quarantine period is ‘unworkable’, and people would be unable to get tested.
Covid-infected persons must isolate for up to 14 days.
New Zealanders infected in Covid must isolate from it for 14 days. That’s an additional 10 days in the interim rules.
Contacts from households must remain in quarantine until the disease is fully controlled.
New Zealand’s Covid epidemic has increased to 84 cases. There were 43 new Covid cases in New Zealand and 41 more at the border.
One of the victims was an Auckland Airport worker, who had tested positive for the Omicron strain. This raises concerns that the number of cases could rise to as high as 1,500 per day if this mutant strain continues spreading across the country.
According to the NZ Ministry of Health, the modifications were implemented after Japanese scientific data revealed that the strain was more infectious than previously thought. Sufferers can also be affected for longer periods of time.
Critics warned that the policy is ‘unworkable’. It could result in more people refusing to undergo testing to get around the long quarantine.