New Zealand has recorded first Covid-19 cases in more than three months prompting Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to institute new lockdown measures in Auckland.
The resurgence of cases has halted the dissolution of parliament, which was due to make way for an election scheduled to take place on September 19, until Monday.
However, no decision has been made on extending the election date.
“It’s too early to make decisions but there is a bit of flexibility to move the election date if required,” Ardern told a televised media conference, adding any date before Nov 21 can be chosen for the election.
New Zealand health officials are urgently tracing the source of four new cases of Covid-19, all within one family in Auckland, the country’s largest city.
Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the infected family was in strict isolation at home, but one woman had travelled to tourist spots in Rotorua while she was symptomatic.
Health officials were urgently tracing her activities and were prepared to test tens of thousands of people in the coming days, Bloomfield said.
Auckland shifted to level 3 restrictions at midday on Wednesday, requiring people to stay at home unless for essential trips.
The rest of the country was placed back into slightly looser level 2 restrictions. The restrictions will initially remain in place until Friday.
New Zealand was the World Health Organization’s example of how to contain the disease after recording only 22 deaths in a population of five million in 3 months.
