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"Each of you has a role in helping to save a life"

The Southland App

25 March 2020, 1:12 AM

"Each of you has a role in helping to save a life"Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield and Director of Civil Defence for Emergency Management Sarah Stuart-Black pictured during today's briefing.

A nationwide State of Emergency has been declared as New Zealanders prepare to go into a full COVID-19 lockdown tonight.


The total number of confirmed and probable cases throughout the country as at stands at 205 as at 9.30am today – 50 more than yesterday. A total of 9780 tests have been processed – 1421, of them yesterday.


Six people are currently in hospital – three in Wellington, one in Rotorua and two in Waikato. All are stable and none is in intensive care. Three COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospital yesterday. Twenty-two people are now considered to have recovered from COVID-19.


Because of the unprecedented nature of this global pandemic, the Minister of Civil Defence Peeni Henare declared a national State of Emergency at 12.21pm today, to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce its impact.


This gives access to powers that would not normally be available but would be needed to slow the spread of COVID-19, reduce its impact and manage the consequences. These could include:

• Powers of requisition manage wider consequences (e.g. providing for the conservation and supply of fuel and other essential supplies)

• Closing of roads

• Stopping people doing activities that may contribute to the emergency

• Excluding people from places

• Prohibiting or regulating traffic


Director of Civil Defence for Emergency Management Sarah Stuart-Black said she wanted to reinforce the “critical importance” of everyone doing their part.


“Each of you has a role in helping to save a life. Self-isolation means people must stop all interactions with others outside of their households,” she said.


“We’re really hoping that people have heard the messages and understand how horrendous this could get. We don’t want thousands of people to die, it is that plain and simple.”


There would be no tolerance for people who did not comply with the requirement to self-isolate to keep New Zealand safe.


“The really important message is helping people understand why this is important and the actions they need to take. They need to be deliberate about any trips they’re doing away from home; they’re going out to get something from the supermarket, they’re not just going out for a bit of a mooch,” she said.


“Stay home unless you’ve got a purposeful reason to be out”


Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Boomfield said that even as the country entered Alert Level 4, the number of cases confirmed on a daily basis was expected to increase for at least another 10 days.


“That is because the infections today and over the coming week to 10 days are people who have been infected before today. So, the numbers will continue to increase before they turn around,” he said.


“That turnaround will happen if all New Zealanders do what is being asked of them. That is: to stay at home, to break the chain and save lives.”


• Between 6pm and 7pm tonight, a nationwide emergency mobile alert will be issued to reinforce to New Zealanders how critical these actions are. New Zealand enters COVID-19 Level 4 status at 11.59pm tonight.




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