Daily reported confirmed cases drop to 23 today
Venkat Raman
April 9, 2020
All New Zealanders arriving in New Zealand will undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days in hotels and other managed facilities under strict supervision.
The rule will come into effect at 1159 pm today.
Strict border control
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that every New Zealander arriving at any of the country’s borders will be automatically sent to a quarantine facility.
“I believe that we are turning the corner. I thank New Zealanders for complying with the strict rules in force under the Epidemic Notice and Public Health Act. But our borders could pose a risk. One person can spread the virus. We have to therefore put into effect rigid measures for all New Zealanders arriving from overseas,” she said.
Her comments followed the announcement by Director General of Health Dr Ashely Bloomfield that there only 23 new cases to report, plus six as probable cases.
The number of arrivals is not known but Ms Ardern placed the figure at 40,000 over the next two weeks, although it is not known if all of them will be accommodated at hotels.
She thanked New Zealanders for observing the Alert 4 regulations and staying at home.
Kiwis thanked for compliance
“In the face of the greatest threat to human health that we have faced in over a century, Kiwis have quietly and collectively implemented a nationwide wall of defence. You are breaking the chain of transmission and you did it for each other,” she said.
Ms Ardern said that initial modelling showed New Zealand was on a similar trajectory to Italy and Spain (with about 10,000 projected deaths due to Covid-19, but current modelling showed the lockdown measures were working.
“As we head into Easter, I say thank you to you and your bubble,” she said.
Ms Ardern said that the Police will be out in full force during the Easter weekend ensuring that only those providing or accessing essential services are seen outside their homes.
Tomorrow is Good Friday and all supermarkets, superettes and dairies will be closed. Health services, petrol pumps and a few other essentials will be open.
Ms Ardern said that contact tracing is an area in which they would be greater engagement.
She said that a MobileApp has been developed but yet to be finalised.
She was due to speak to Lee Hsien Loong this evening to learn of their experience.
Declining trend
Dr Bloomfield that health authorities are still seeing a strong but declining link to overseas travel (41%), and growing links to confirmed cases within New Zealand (44%) including those in clusters and community transmission (2%).
“We are investigating 13% of cases. There are 12 significant clusters. Our three largest clusters are the same Matamata (64, up 2 on yesterday); Bluff (87 up 6); and Marist College (84, no change). There were 3990 tests processed yesterday bringing the total number of cases carried out to date to 51,165. I would like to remind that people should continue to access health care services when they need them. This especially applies to people that need urgent attention,” he said.
If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800-3585453 (+64 9 3585453 for international SIMs) or call your GP – please do not show up at a medical centre.
