Coronavirus:
50 new
COVID-19 cases in New
Zealand
The
number of confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 has risen by 50,
officials announced on Wednesday.
Newshub,
26
March, 2020
There
were 47 confirmed and three probable cases in the past 24 hours.
Director-General
of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield made the announcement at 1pm.
New
Zealand now has 205 cases, he said. The majority of cases are still
connected to overseas travel, however there are four confirmed cases
and several suspected cases caused by community transmission.
Five
of the cases have been linked to Auckland's Marist College for girls.
"All
students and staff are being managed as close contacts. That means
they are expected to be in monitored self-quarantine for the next 14
days or 14 days since last contact with each other," Dr
Bloomfield said.
"Staff
and students should not congregate with anyone outside their home,
and keep their physical distance from those within their household
for this period.
"There
are a number of staff members who are being tested or are about to be
tested, as they have symptoms."
Cases
are being actively followed up by Ministry of Health staff, and Dr
Bloomfield urged people to follow the quarantine rules.
Twenty-two
people have recovered after being infected. Six people remain in
hospital in a stable condition - three in Wellington hospital, one in
Rotorua and two in Waikato. Three patients were discharged on
Tuesday.
Dr
Bloomfield warned the number of cases would continue to increase for
the next 10 days from people infected before today.
"The
numbers will continue to increase before they turn around. That
turnaround will happen if we all do what is asked of us," he
said.
"This
will require all our efforts and I strongly urge all New Zealanders
to play their part."
New
Zealand going into lockdown
From
Wednesday night, New Zealand will be in lockdown for at least four
weeks in an attempt to minimise the spread of the virus, which has
infected over 150 people in New Zealand.
The
lockdown means people must remain indoors, non-essential businesses
will close, schools are shut, and travel is severely limited.
"If
everyone reduces down their contacts, stays at home, that's one less
person that's at risk of picking it up who's less likely to pass it
on to three other people and then three other people and then three
other people - which is roughly the transmission rate," Prime
Minister Jacinda Ardern told The AM Show on Tuesday.
"So
everyone needs to play their part, and please do. It's not just about
your life, it's about others'."
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