Further Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s wedding has been postponed as the country implements new restrictions to curb the spread of the Omicron coronavirus type in the population.
Following an outbreak of the Omicron variant, the entire country will be subjected to strictest Covid restrictions. The restriction includes a limit of 100 persons vaccinated at events and the wearing of masks in stores and on public transportation.
In New Zealand, there have been 15,104 cases of Covid, with 52 deaths. On Sunday, Ms Ardern told reporters that her wedding to television host Clarke Gayford will be postponed.
“I am no different to, dare I say it, thousands of other New Zealanders who have had much more devastating impacts felt by the pandemic, the most gutting of which is the inability to be with a loved one sometimes when they are gravely ill,” she said. “That will far, far outstrip any sadness I experience,” she added.
The new restrictions take effect at 12 a.m. local time on Sunday (11:00 GMT).It comes after the confirmation of a cluster of nine Omicron patients.
After returning home to the South Island, a family who had attended a wedding in Auckland tested positive. The virus also infected a flight attendant. The amount of community transmission from the organisation is expected to be high, according to officials.
Indoor hospitality venues and events will be limited to 100 people who have been vaccinated, or 25 if vaccine passes are not used. According to the New Zealand Herald, this includes gyms and weddings.
Masks will be required to be worn in school by students that are four years old and up. Since the beginning of the pandemic, New Zealand has followed stringent Covid guidelines, which has allowed them to minimise death rate from pandemic. It was one of the first countries in the world to restrict its borders and implement lockdowns to combat previous outbreaks.
The “red setting” of the country’s pandemic response includes more stringent measures including mask use and gathering restrictions, which will enter into force on Monday. “Red is not lockdown,” Ardern highlighted, emphasising that businesses may continue to operate and that people can visit family and friends and travel freely across the state.
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