New Zealand, government abandons zero Covid target due to delta variable

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, acknowledged that her government’s initial “Covid Zero” strategy had failed to stem the epidemic, which is particularly prevalent in Auckland, declaring that a “new approach” was needed at this point: the responsibility lies in a variable spread. delta, which is much more contagious than both alpha and the original strain of the virus. According to the executive, the new intervention model should take into account vaccination rates and allow movement restrictions to be eased.

For months, New Zealand has enjoyed strong protection thanks to strict precision The closing of the borders allowed New Zealanders to lead a semi-normal life. However, in August, a case of variable delta emerged in Auckland and strict measures had to be taken to restrict travel; The two million residents of the country’s largest city have been on lockdown for seven weeks and restrictions were only lifted last month.

Jacinda Ardern admitted that the high contagion of the delta variant is represented by A tipping point and we have to live with it: “Even with the long-term restrictions that we have imposed, it is clear that we have not reached zero.” Ardern announced that she would not abandon her strategy immediately, but that Auckland’s containment would be mitigated even if the number of new cases did not decrease, insisting that this change – which represents an important step towards the goal of “zero Covid” – is made possible by the sharp increase in the number of cases. Persons who have been vaccinated. “Getting rid of the virus was important because we didn’t have a vaccine, and now we have a vaccine, so we can start changing the way we do things. We have more options and good reasons to be optimistic about the future, but we don’t have to make things in a hurry.” The capital will remain confined, but every week the government will study the possibility of lifting some measures.