New Zealand will abandon its “zero-Covid” strategy to start coexisting with the virus after the outbreak of the variable delta

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern admitted on Monday that New Zealand’s much-acclaimed “no virus” strategy had failed to stop the coronavirus outbreak in Auckland. he said that A new approach is needed.

The strict removal policy has largely protected the country from the epidemic e Residents enjoyed a semi-normal home life with strict restrictions at international borders.

ma The outbreak, which led to a spike in coronavirus cases in August, has forced the Executive to impose a seven-week quarantine. at its main inhabited center, which failed to stop the increase in casualties.

Ardern said so The highly transmissible delta variant has proven to be a “game-changing factor” that cannot be eliminated.

“Even with the long-term constraints we’ve faced, We obviously didn’t get to zero“he added.

Ardern said he would not immediately abandon the strategy to combat the coronavirus, but that Restrictions in Auckland will be eased slightly, although the number of new cases has not decreased.

He added that a major policy change regarding the goal of total eradication of the virus was possible Vaccination rates have increased dramatically.

“The hard-line policy was important because we didn’t have vaccines, and now we have, So we can start changing the way we do things.”He told reporters.

Auckland will remain restricted for the time being, but The government will conduct weekly reviews To re-enter freedom programming.

City residents can meet outdoors in groups of up to 10 people starting Wednesday and at Measures such as reopening shops and schools will be considered in the coming weeks.

The rest of the country was cleared of quarantine in early September.

Before the outbreak of Auckland, Bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have praised New Zealand’s strategy to eradicate the coronavirus, With only 27 deaths out of five million people.

opposition leader Judith Collins said Ardern only offered a “vague wish list” that she failed to outline in a coherent plan to replace the “zero Covid” approach.

(With information from AFP)

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