It is the first time the government has announced a shift away from the ambitious elimination strategy, that has largely kept the country free of the virus. Ardern said the strategy had served New Zealand well, but there was always going to be point of transition away from it.
Fifty new cases were reported over the weekend, including a truck driver who travelled to Palmerston North, about km from Auckland, while infectious. Another 29 cases were reported on Monday, with all but one in Auckland, bringing total cases in the outbreak to 1, A newborn baby in the maternity ward at North Shore hospital was one of the latest cases.
There are 21 unlinked cases from the past fortnight, which epidemiologists fear could indicate undetected strains of transmission within the community. Auckland, which has been in lockdown for seven weeks, will have its restrictions eased in three stages, Ardern said, with cabinet reviewing each step weekly to ensure it is safe to move.
From midnight Tuesday, Auckland will remain in alert level 3 but several key changes will occur. People will be able to connect with people outdoors, with no more than two households at a time and up to a maximum of 10 people.
Early childhood education will return for all and people can move around Auckland for recreation such as beach visits and hunting. The second step will allow retail to reopen, with requirements for face masks and physical distancing. Public facilities such as pools and zoos can open and the number of people who can meet outdoors will increase to Step three will allow for hospitality to open β seated, separated and with a limit of 50; close contact businesses like hairdressers will also open with mask use and physical distancing; gatherings will also then extend to Amid mounting pressure, Ardern said earlier her strategy was never to have zero cases, but to aggressively stamp out the virus.
