WELLINGTON, New Zealand — After discovering a single instance of coronavirus infection in the community, New Zealand’s government took dramatic measures Tuesday, placing the whole country under lockdown for at least three days.
“We’ve seen what happens when we don’t get on top of it abroad,” Ardern added. “We just have one shot.”
People queued outside stores to stock up on necessities, and the New Zealand dollar fell sharply in value as a result of the events.
New Zealand has also been slower to inoculate its people than other industrialized countries, leaving it vulnerable to epidemics. Only 32% of people have gotten at least one vaccination, and only 18% are completely immunized.
Health authorities said genetic testing would not confirm if the sick 58-year-old man had the delta variation until Wednesday, but they were assuming he had.
Officials said they couldn’t quickly make a link between the guy and the few others who had tested positive after being quarantined after returning from abroad. The most likely cause of any epidemics is thought to be the border.
Since the pandemic began, New Zealand has only recorded 26 viral fatalities.
The lockdown will go into force at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. It requires individuals to stay at home and avoid social situations. Most individuals can only leave to do grocery shopping or exercise. The country’s vaccination program had been ramping up, but owing to the epidemic, it has been halted for two days.