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The arrival of the highly infectious Delta variant “raises some major questions” about New Zealand’s pandemic response, the minister said.
Covid-19’s response minister, Chris Hipkins, said the variant “changed the game significantly” and “looked inadequate” in existing protection.
It comes as the country has announced 21 more confirmed cases in the recent outbreak of the virus.
New Zealand has quelled previous Covid outbreaks with a swift and strict blockade.
The country was praised for its efforts to effectively stop the spread of the virus. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has repeatedly called New Zealand a “team of 5 million people.”
according to Johns Hopkins University Data, A total of 3,016 cases have been confirmed in Japan, and 26 people have been reported dead.
However, authorities recently announced a snap lockdown after a man tested positive in Auckland using a variant of Delta.
Currently, there are 72 active cases. Seven schools in the city have reported positive cases among students, and the country has announced six infectious diseases in the capital Wellington.
Authorities are currently warning that Auckland’s blockade, which is due to expire on Tuesday, may be extended.
Hypkins told the media on Sunday that it was still the government’s goal to get rid of the virus in New Zealand.
“But in reality, a virus that can be transmitted within 24 hours of someone getting it can make a big difference in the game,” he told a Q + A political talk show aired on Sunday.
“That means that all of our existing protections … seem to be inadequate and less robust,” he said, “what is the long-term future of our plans?” It raises some pretty big questions about what is there. “
“At some point we will have to start to be more open in the future.”
according to Ministry of Health of New Zealand websiteAs of Thursday, more than 960,000 people were double vaccinated and about 1.7 million were first vaccinated in a population of just under 5 million.
However, critics have questioned the speed of vaccine deployment. New Zealand is one of the countries with the lowest number of fully vaccinated people in the OECD and a group of international countries that are one of the most prosperous economies in the world.
Earlier this month Prime Minister Ardan announced that the border remains closed Until the end of this year. She said the purpose was to vaccinate the population by then.
The country will then move to a new personal risk-based model for unquarantine travel.
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