Ardern, of New Zealand, says the blockade works to limit the spread of the Delta

WELLINGTON, Aug 26 (Reuters) – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said strict national closure applied to eradicate COVID-19 helped limit the spread of Delta’s highly infectious variant, even as the number of new cases increased on Thursday.

New Zealand reported 68 new cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of people infected in the latest outbreak to 277. Of the total cases, 263 are in Auckland and 14 in the capital Wellington.

The entire country, worth 5 million, is under order to stay home, with schools and most jobs closed at least until the end of the month.

“The blockade has an impact, but Delta is very complicated,” Ardern said at a news conference. “We have to be incredibly vigilant.”

New Zealand has been largely virus-free since last year, except for a small number of cases in February, but that changed last week after an outbreak of the Delta variant erupted in Auckland, causing that Ardern ordered the closure.

Ardern’s strategy to eliminate the virus through strict border controls and rapid closures has broad support in New Zealand, but his government has been criticized for the progress of vaccination, among the slowest in the OECD.

Removal will continue to be New Zealand’s strategy until most of its population is vaccinated, Ardern said.

“No one wants to use locks forever … that’s not our intention,” Ardern said. “But while we vaccinate, elimination is the goal.”

About 80% of the population has not yet been fully vaccinated. The government said so far 3 million doses have been administered and a record 87,000 people have been vaccinated in the last 24 hours.

Praveen Menon Reports; Lincoln Feast Edition.

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