NATIONAL NEWS: COVID 19 State Of Emergency declared in New Zealand

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As Covid-19 spreads around the world, it can be daunting staying aware of the information. For RNZ, our responsibility is to give you verified, up to the minute, trustworthy information to assist you with making decisions about your lives and your health. We’ll also be asking questions of officials and decision makers about how they’re responding to the infection. Our aim is to keep you informed.

New Zealand is presently in a State of National Emergency, after 50 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus were confirmed today, carrying the total to 205.

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Government officials have given an update on the Covid-19 national response, the latest health update, border issues and an essential administrations update.

Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said there were presently 205 confirmed and probably cases, and there had been a total of 9780 tests undertaken up until now.

Eight individuals who arrived in Auckland airport yesterday tested positive for Covid-19.

Dr Bloomfield said there were five confirmed cases “within the community in one school” – Marist School in the Auckland suburb of Mount Albert. The school has been shut all week and all students and staff are in isolation and being treated as close contacts.

Various staff are being tested as they are presenting with symptoms.

Six individuals are in hospital throughout the country. All are in a stable condition, none of them are in ICU. Three of those individuals are in Wellington hospital.

There are presently four cases of community transmission in New Zealand, and more being investigated. Dr Bloomfield said the clusters of cases in the school and Hereford cattle conference could be considered community transmission

Dr Bloomfield said he expected the numbers to increase for at least the next 10 days.

The country is preparing to go into a full lockdown for alert level 4 from 11.59pm tonight, for at least a month.

Common Defense Emergency Management director general Sarah Stuart-Black said a state of national crisis was declared at 12.21pm, and applied to all of New Zealand – including the Chatham Islands, Stewart Island and other inhabited islands.

A nationwide versatile alert will be given to all New Zealanders between 6-7pm tonight.

The State of Emergency legislation allows it to be in place for seven days and can be extended, said Stuart Black.

In a state of crisis, authorities will have powers that are not normally available to them, for example, the possibility of military patrols.

She said there would be no tolerance for individuals who don’t self isolate.

Dr Bloomfield said police would announce either later today or tomorrow what the consequences for individuals flouting the self isolation rules would be.

But he said individuals who go hunting or get into situations where they might require saving were taking individuals from the front line in the fight against Covid-19.

If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP – don’t show up at a medical center

Source - NZ Fiji Times
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