After more than 100 days of there not being a locally transmitted COVID-19 case, New Zealand is now extending sweeping lockdowns in its largest city and elsewhere after a spike in infections.
On Tuesday, four new locally transmitted cases of the coronavirus were found among a single family within the southern area of Auckland. Since then, approximately 30 others have now been infected through community spread by a new strain of the coronavirus, according to the international news agency Agence France-Presse.
“This suggests it’s not a case of the virus being dormant, or of burning embers in our community, it appears to be new to New Zealand,” said New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on the outbreak.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines community spread as multiple individuals being infected with the virus in an area, but includes “some who are not sure how or where they became infected.”
On Tuesday, government officials categorized Auckland under level 3 restrictions, which ban social gatherings over 10 people and close bars, restaurants, and nonessential businesses. All other areas in New Zealand will be placed under level 2 restrictions, which limit gatherings of more than 100 people and require social distancing.
“Lifting restrictions now and seeing an explosion of cases is the worst thing we could do for Auckland and for the New Zealand economy,” Ardern said. “We have got rid of COVID before … We can do all of that again.”
In June, the island nation lifted its social distancing protocols after it reported zero active coronavirus cases. “While the job is not done, there is no denying this is a milestone. … Thank you, New Zealand,” Ardern said at the time.
