Jacinda has addressed the country this afternoon, ahead of the imminent lockdown tonight.
“We’re now hours away from an unprecedented lockdown of our country in order to combat an unprecedented virus,” she began. “I have one simple message: stay at home.”
The Prime Minister said she has one simple message, “stay at home…if you don’t comply, you run the risk of us having to extend the lockdown.”
Border enforcement will also step up, says Ardern. Every arriving New Zealander will be screened. If symptomatic, don’t have a self-isolation plan or no transport home, they will be placed in a quarantine facility. Those returning Kiwis who are self-isolating at home and don’t follow the rules will be fined and quarantined.
Ardern also addressed the questions around essential services. “This is not an area where we want workarounds,” she says. “We need tough rules to win the battle ahead. It won’t be easy but the alternative will be worse.”
Ardern says people should first and foremost stay home, but can go out for fresh air but must keep it limited to near their homes – no playgrounds, fishing, hunting or beaches.
The Prime Minister says we should expect an increase of COVID-19 cases, that may reach the thousands. “Success won’t be instant, the benefit won’t be felt for days to come. Expect our numbers to keep rising – modelling suggests we could have several thousands of cases.”
Ardern finished by asking Kiwis to apply a simple principle to prevent the spread. “Pretend like you have COVID-19 at all times and that will fundamentally change how we all behave.”
