New cases detected in New Zealand after 102 days of being free from coronavirus infections

New Zealand’s world-beating run of being Covid-free has come to an end, with the detection of new cases prompting the government to put largest city Auckland into lockdown.

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On Tuesday, New Zealand announced four new cases of COVID-19 discovered in the city, the first evidence of domestic transmission after being coronavirus-free for 102 days.

The four cases were within one family in South Auckland. One person is in their 50s. They had no history of international travel. Family members have been tested and contact tracing is underway, said Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield.

The news about the new cases sent panic across the country, people are seen rushing to supermarkets to stock up, and businesses preparing to shut.

From noon on Wednesday, Auckland will move to level 3 on New Zealand’s Covid alert system, signaling people should stay at home if possible and avoid contact with others. Schools will close for most pupils while bars and restaurants will also shut.

This will remain in place for three days, and the rest of the country will go to level 2 restrictions that include social distancing and limits on the size of gatherings.

“This is something we have prepared for,” Ardern said in a surprise news conference, adding that the increased caution was as the source of the virus was unknown.

“We have had a 102 days and it was easy to feel New Zealand was out of the woods. No country has gone as far as we did without having a resurgence. And because we were the only ones, we had to plan. And we have planned,” she said.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said: “I am urging Aucklanders to come together like we did last time to stamp out community transmission. Please remain calm, please do not panic buy and please follow the lockdown rules.”

Ardern said travel into Auckland, on the North Island, would be restricted unless you lived there.

It marked 100 days without a domestic transmission of the coronavirus on Sunday, but warned against complacency as countries like Vietnam and Australia which once had the virus under control now battle a resurgence.

Bloomfield said the unknown nature of the new cases meant it was likely there would be more positive case in the coming days.

“The case is a wake up call for any complacency that may have set in,” Bloomfield said.