Two of the three new cases of Covid-19 that sent the New Zealand city of Auckland to the blockade were confirmed to be a variant of the virus first detected in the United Kingdom.
The three local Covid-19 cases announced on Sunday are mother, father and daughter of the same family in South Auckland, said director general of health, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, at a news conference. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said one of the trios works at a facility that washes clothes for airlines.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff told CNN officials that the individual’s job could be “the connection” to the virus.
These cases led authorities to decree a three-day blockade for all of Auckland, a city of about 1.5 million people and the country’s largest population center, starting on Sunday at 11:59 pm.
“We have been dealing with more communicable versions, Covid-19 mutations. We want to be very cautious. That is why we have taken this very cautious approach,” said Ardern. “What we want people to do is stay home. So for the next 72 hours, if you’re in Auckland, stay home.”
Goff said New Zealand was successful in containing the virus when officials “act steadily and move forward”.
“The government made the decision, consulting with us in Auckland, that we must respond in the same way this time,” he said. “So after a beautiful weekend watching America’s Cup yacht races, and people enjoying the sun and the beaches and the parks and the festivals, we are suddenly in a 72-hour block.”
Goff said that now 6,000 to 7,000 people will be tested for the virus and, if the tests are cleaned, the authorities could suspend the new stringent measures.
No new cases were reported on Monday, the country’s Ministry of Health said in a statement