New Zealand is imposing a three-day closure on the most populous city as of Sunday, after three new locally transmitted Covid-19 cases were reported on Saturday.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Sunday announced the closure in Auckland, home to 1.5 million people. The closing will end on Wednesday at 11:59 p.m.
Under lock: All Auckland residents, including students, must stay home except essential outings. Ardern also asked all companies to switch to contactless services, such as takeaway food instead of food.
The rest of New Zealand will also be upgraded to level 2 social distancing measures, where the use of masks on public transport is mandatory and there is a limit of 100 people at meetings.
Positive family tests: The three local cases reported are a mother, father and daughter from the same South Auckland home, according to the Director General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
There is another close family member waiting for the test results as well.
The institute the daughter attends, Papatoetoe High School, will remain closed on Monday and Tuesday after the girl’s positive test. An emerging test site will be available for students at the school.
The four family members are moving to the Auckland quarantine facility Sunday, Bloomfield said.
New Zealand has been very successful in containing the virus and has reported a total of 1,974 cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic began.