‘Auckland will move to level 1’
AUCKLAND - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed Auckland will move to alert level 1 this week.
Ms Ardern says Cabinet met via Zoom to review the Auckland’s alert level and that all signs point to the city’s cluster being under control.
She says there were 179 cases attached to the cluster but that there has been no new cases within that cluster for 10 days now.
“There has only been one case in the past two weeks and only five people from the cluster are yet to recover.”
She says there is now a 95 per cent probability of the cluster being eliminated, according to research.
“I know for many, this one has felt harder, especially for Aucklanders.”
Ms Ardern says at alert level 3, Treasury estimated the local economy was operating at 80-85 per cent.
Cabinet has confirmed that Auckland will join the rest of New Zealand at alert level 1 on Wednesday, October 7, Ms Ardern says.
She says a resurgence in the virus is not her only concern going forward, a resurgence in complacency is also a worry.
“We all want to avoid further restrictions ... but to stay at level 1 we need to be vigilant,” she said.
“Everywhere I go Covid is at the top of people’s minds,” Ms Ardern said on her recent travels around the country during her election campaign.
Ms Ardern says she remains in contact with the Australian government over a possible travel bubble, but reaffirms it’s not ready yet. Ms Ardern is urging people to scan into places they visit when out in the public “and without question, please stay home if you’re sick”.