New Zealand PM Ardern Says Country Should Prepare for Self-Isolation Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

New Zealand and its neighboring country Australia have banned entry for all foreigners in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus in the Oceanic nations, as the global COVID-19 toll continues to soar.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced her country should prepare for self-isolation amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

On Monday, premier Andern also raised the nationwide alert by one level to alert level three effective immediately, while after 48 hours New Zealand will move to its highest level of alert.

Level three in New Zealand requires all public venues and non-essential businesses to close. Level four is applied when there is sustained transmission – essential services continue, but people are asked to stay at home except for emergency circumstances, schools close, public transport systems stop, and rationing of supplies is introduced.

Andern said the government had decided to keep supermarkets, doctors, pharmacies, service stations, and essential banking services running normally so that citizens know these services are there and avoid leaving home for non-immediate needs. 

If the virus spread continues unimpeded, the number of coronavirus cases will double every five days, according to the prime minister. More than half of the confirmed cases in New Zealand were imported, the ministry of health noted, meaning they were identified in arrivals from other countries.

Globally, the coronavirus toll has exceeded 292,000, with more than 12,700 fatalities registered so far, according to the latest situation update by the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

Sourse: sputniknews.com