11 AUGUST FEDERAL
Confusing Covidsafe << CONTACT TRACING >> app message led people to believe they had coronavirus, documents show
Victorian coronavirus outbreak drives renewed slump in business confidence
Coronavirus is leaving Australians feeling angry over COVID-19 restriction breaches, worried for loved ones
Kmart shoppers slam the retailer for empty shelves
STILL - One third of Aussies rate virus like flu
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/one-third-of-aussies-rate-virus-like-flu/ar-BB17Oa2U?ocid=msedgdhp
11 AUGUST PNG
Papua New Guinea to lift lockdown despite surge in COVID-19 cases
11 AUGUST NZ
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-11/coronavirus-live-blog-tuesday-august-11-victoria-19-deaths/12543432
Auckland locked down as Jacinda Ardern announces New Zealand's first coronavirus cases in 102 days
<< SO I GUESS THE QLD – SA – TAS – SA - NZ TRAVEL BUBBLE IS ON HOLD >>
New Zealand retirement home in lockdown to test for COVID-19
Confusing Covidsafe << CONTACT TRACING >> app message led people to believe they had coronavirus, documents show
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/confusing-covidsafe-app-message-led-people-to-believe-they-had-coronavirus-documents-show/ar-BB17Nk3P?ocid=msedgdhpPoor wording in an early version of the Covidsafe contact-tracing app led people to incorrectly believe they had contracted coronavirus and they turned up “alarmed” to GP clinics for testing, documents obtained by Guardian Australia reveal.
The federal government’s Covidsafe app is used to locate unknown close contacts of confirmed coronavirus cases. Once a user registers in the app, there is a section for people who have tested positive to agree to upload the data of everyone they have been in contact with for the purposes of contact tracing.
a screenshot of a cell phone: FOI documents show that an early version of the Covidsafe app accidentally informed users ‘you have tested positive for Covid-19’, leading to reports from GPs and testing clinics of ‘alarmed patients’.© Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images FOI documents show that an early version of the Covidsafe app accidentally informed users ‘you have tested positive for Covid-19’, leading to reports from GPs and testing clinics of ‘alarmed patients’.
In an early version of the app, users were presented with a message stating “You have tested positive for Covid-19” if they touched a button for uploading their data. Some users had been touching the button by accident.
Nine News reported in April that one woman had been confused by the messaging, however emails obtained by Guardian Australia under freedom of information law show it was more widespread.
The NSW Health department wrote to its federal counterpart in late April stating it was getting “alarmed patients” turning up to get tested at GPs and Covid testing clinics because of the message.
“You may already be aware, but we are receiving lots of feedback from [public health units] across the state and through GPs/Covid testing clinics who are having alarmed patients present for testing, because some people are getting confused [by the message].”
NSW Health said the concerns had been worked through individually but asked the department to make the language clearer.
The language was subsequently updated in the next update of the app, and now states “Is a health official asking you to upload your information?”
The documents also reveal the government was aware in early May of issues with the bluetooth beacons used in the app to record close contacts interfering with other applications, including glucose monitors for people with diabetes.
Department of Health chief information officer Daniel Keys included the issue in a list of information provided to health minister Greg Hunt and government services minister Stuart Robert for briefing the prime minister about the app.
The interference issue has been addressed in subsequent updates, however there still remain questions about the efficacy of the iPhone version of the app recording contacts when the app is closed or the screen is locked.
The government’s own data has shown it only working as much as 50% of the time at last report.
Close to 7 million people in Australia have now downloaded the app. The government has yet to provide information on how many of those people continue to use it.
The app has proved useful in New South Wales, where data has been accessed 33 times, with 14 close contacts not previously identified by manual tracing found through the app.
For one of the cases, NSW was able to find an unrecognised exposure date from Mounties club in Sydney’s west that resulted in the health department notifying 544 people at that venue at that time, and finding two more cases of Covid-19.
In Victoria where the majority of cases in the country have occurred, the state’s chief health officer Prof Brett Sutton last week would not say whether the app had been useful, but said the lockdown settings for Victoria were not right for the app because people were less likely to spend a long time interacting with people they don’t know.
Victorian coronavirus outbreak drives renewed slump in business confidence
https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/markets/victorian-coronavirus-outbreak-drives-renewed-slump-in-business-confidence/ar-BB17O9Dk?ocid=msedgdhpBusiness confidence has turned sharply negative again, around the country, amid Victoria's strong wave of coronavirus infections.
The deterioration in confidence coincided with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews' attempts to contain the latest COVID-19 outbreak with strict lockdown measures in Melbourne and restrictions across Victoria.
According to the NAB business survey, business confidence deteriorated noticeably last month just as a majority of employers had begun feeling optimistic about the future again.
Troublingly, the survey was conducted from 22-31 July, which was just before the escalation to stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne and stage 3 restrictions in the rest of Victoria and the imposition of strict staffing reductions at food processing centres.
NAB's business confidence index fell sharply by 14 points in July, pulling the index back into negative territory at -14.
When the index is in positive territory it means optimism outweighs pessimism.
In the previous month (June), business confidence had finally returned to positive territory (reported as +1 last month but adjusted to zero this month) after taking three months to recover from falling to its lowest level on record in March (-65 points).
Confidence fell on the east coast, driven by sharp declines in Victoria and New South Wales and a more modest decline in Queensland.
Business sentiment is now negative in all states except Western Australia and Tasmania, with NSW and Victoria significantly weaker than the rest.
Confidence fell in all industries, led by mining which saw a sharp decline, though confidence is weakest in retail and construction.
In contrast, even as confidence tumbled, current business conditions finally returned to neutral last month — recording 0 index points — after recording negative points in May (-21 points) and June (-8 points).
Trading and profitability had finally returned to positive territory, and employment conditions were continuing to improve.
"While the rebound in conditions is encouraging, the fall in confidence even prior to the announcement of stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne demonstrates that businesses will remain very cautious given the great uncertainty around the virus at the moment," NAB group chief economist Alan Oster said.
"It also highlights that the business sector will require ongoing support through the recovery phase until the economy can get back on its feet."
Victoria hit with job losses and wage declines
New figures on payroll jobs and wages show conditions in Victoria have steadily worsened compared to the rest of the country.
Since mid-March, the number of payroll jobs across Australia has declined 4.5 per cent (with wages falling 4.8 per cent), but in Victoria they have declined by 6.7 per cent (with wages down 5 per cent).
Last month, payroll jobs fell 1.5 per cent in Victoria even before the introduction of stage 4 restrictions in the state.
"Around 40 per cent of jobs lost in Victoria my mid-April had been regained by 25 June, but by the end of July this had reduced to 24 per cent," said Bjorn Jarvis, head of labour statistics at the ABS.
The bureau's latest survey of payroll jobs and wages covers the period 11-25 July.
It shows payroll jobs had actually increased recently in New South Wales (+0.2 per cent), Queensland (+0.6 per cent), South Australia (+0.5 per cent), Tasmania (+0.3 per cent), but fell slightly in Western Australia (-0.1 per cent) and by more in Victoria (-1.2 per cent).
"The move to stage 4 lockdown will likely widen the performance gap between Victoria and the other states and territories in terms of economic data and produce a two-speed economic recovery," Citi economists Josh Williamson and Faraz Syed wrote in a note to clients.
Coronavirus is leaving Australians feeling angry over COVID-19 restriction breaches, worried for loved ones
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-11/second-lockdown-sentiment-in-melbourne2c-victoria-and-across-a/12542712From the stress not being able to hold the hand of an elderly loved one, to rage at attempts to force a state to open its borders — Australians are experiencing an array of emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here is a sample of how hundreds of readers from across the country feel:
Worry for loved ones
Some people just want to see their mums.
"My 97-year-old mother is in aged care. If she became critically ill, or ill at all with COVID-19, the only thing I would want to do is visit her and hold her hand. Why are next of kin prevented from gowning up and isolating after such a visit? It's honestly THE major thing I would ever seek in my life, and ditto from mum's perspective. Even the possibility of her sickening under these circumstances is incredibly stressful. I'd put this kind of visit as number 1 in my reason for living."
Their sons.
"Is there any way we can bring our son home from Melbourne? I'm scared out of my brain."
And husbands.
"Should I negotiate with my boss so I can work from home? I'm a secondary school teacher who works on-site (in class with a face mask) three days a week and works from home (online) two days a week. I am worried about catching the virus. My husband is currently undertaking chemotherapy and has a low immune system. Teaching in class is less workload, enjoyable and better for my wellbeing but I don't want to regret…"
For the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic read our coronavirus live blog.
Anxiety about where to find help
For substance abuse.
"I unfortunately have a severe problem with drugs and am currently dependant on opioids. I am currently in the process of going onto oral replacement therapy which will take another week. What should I do in the meantime, as I need to acquire a daily dose to prevent me from being seriously ill and going into withdrawals? I feel like through out this whole pandemic people in situations such as myself that are dependant on substances have been forgotten about. Thank you."
Or for people in aged care.
"What is being done to prevent dementia patients in nursing homes dying or greatly declining from feeling abandoned and not understanding why their relatives suddenly visit rarely or not at all because of visiting restrictions imposed by the aged care homes?"
Some want tougher lockdowns.
"[Daniel] Andrews and [Scott] Morrison need to lock down harder now — not in seven or 14 days. Now! What are they waiting for, the numbers to go up? Aged care is a disgrace, not just distressing. Should have got extra help three weeks ago everything too slow with the lockdowns. So sad to see the numbers and deaths."
Others want borders to close.
"Can you please investigate further as to why the Queensland border isn't shut now? When all of this first began, if Australia shut itself down and quarantined incoming flights/boats the country would not be in this situation. So to stop Queensland from having another wave, why can't our border be shut? Why risk it for the people who are doing the right thing?"
People doing the wrong thing
In Queensland.
"Tried to report a breach of restrictions (i.e. party in my street at a wine bar) and the police line 131 444 can't take my call (tried twice while the revellers revel). So who is the first line of defence? Should I storm them with with my single-use mask and a bottle of sanitiser?"
And Victoria.
"What can regional Victorians do to report those travelling outside of locked down areas? Some people just don't get what a lock down is, so blatant as to give their Melbourne-based post code when trying to book a table at cafes in regional Vic."
Shopping and supermarkets
For those behind the counter.
"I work as a cashier, and I am concerned about catching COVID-19 from customers who refuse to socially distance form one another. They also are unable to distance from myself due to the size of the store where I work. I am also concerned about customers who do not cover their face whilst coughing or sneezing, and somehow transferring respiratory particles from that to myself."
And those bringing groceries home.
"[Dr] Norman [Swan] mentioned washing groceries after shopping wasn't necessary, however with the virus able to survive on certain surfaces for hours and potentially longer in the fridge and freezer, have you taken that position as the amount of virus present is unlikely to cause infection or is there another reason? My concern is, what if someone inadvertently contaminates an item in the freezer which I then purchase — will I have a ticking time bomb lurking in my freezer at home?"
Clive Palmer's High Court border challenge
Some fear it forces a bad outcome.
"Scomo's support of Clive Palmer's attempt to force WA to open borders is making me feel ANXIOUS for first time during pandemic. I'm in Tas, felt Scomo opened too much too early at the time, see the results and now feel threatened that the High Court will enable him to do same here. Is it just me experiencing this?"
They weren't alone.
"This is very frightening if our borders were to open! It will not be a very good outcome for West Australians."
Many want to keep the borders closed.
"Just commenting on Clive Palmer and the PM's bid to open the WA borders. As I drove home from the office today I got stuck in traffic next to a football oval. The oval was full of kids running around playing organised football and I had the thought, 'how lucky am I to be working, to be stuck in traffic and to be in a state where the kids can play sport and we can enjoy many of the things we love'."
Working in shops and schools
Retail workers want to stay home.
"Living in metro Melbourne and working in non-essential retail. Every day I find it harder to get out of bed and go to work due to the extreme anxiety and hyper vigilance of being so vulnerable and exposed. Customers aren't good at social distancing from retail workers, and it is simply impossible to stay 1.5m from my co-workers. It is taking a real toll on my mental health."
So do teachers.
"Why do teachers have to go to school to work online when they can do it at home and stop all that moving around in and out of the lock down area? Why do student in a lockdown area leave the area to go to school in another area that is not in lockdown, putting those students at risk?"
And lecturers.
"I am a university lecturer and we are returning to face-to-face teaching for tutorials only soon. We are scheduling classes in large rooms or reducing class sizes where that is not possible so that we can socially distance. What other precautions/practices should we be doing for a 2.5hr tutorial that usually involves small group work? I'm worried that even if at a set distance from each other, group discussions over a long period of time in a confined space will be a risk."
Wearing masks during exercise
Joggers are blowing hard.
"It makes no sense to me to exempt joggers from wearing masks when they are the ones who are most expelling droplets when exhaling due to the deeper and more rapid breathing. I would have thought that they MOST OF ALL would be required to wear a mask. Does the coronavirus recognise whether a person is running or walking? It's absurd. The wearing of masks is not about convenience!"
And don't forget cyclists.
"Hi, people running and cycling on shared paths are not required to wear masks. They are pumping out more breath than the rest of us masked pedestrians. This is unacceptable. EVERYONE regardless of activity must wear a mask. How can this be mandated?"
Waiting for test results
This is a real source of tension.
"I was tested for COVID-19 on July 13. I did not receive my initial interview until day 13 post my test — and only after following up DHHS on multiple occasions. During this period I was quite sick and would wait on hold — usually for over an hour — before being told someone would be back in touch shortly. I never received one of these follow up calls from DHHS. It's now day 17 post my test. I am on hold again trying to find out when I can leave isolation and see my family. The system is broken."
Some just raged
We're living in a society!
"Where did all the COVidiots come from? Why don't people understand that if we want to return to normal life there are aspects of life that need to be halted in the short term. I'm so confused and angry how people can be so stupid and self-centred."
Harsher penalties over breaches
Start with the hip pocket.
"I really wonder whether the penalties for COVID is really working. Is the government looking at harsher penalties especially for those people who knowingly place others at risk ie going to work sick etc. I think its time we held people accountable for this possible infections and deaths that they ARE be causing."
To other deterrents.
"Why aren't more severe punishments being made against these people who continue to break the rules? This should act as a deterrent to the stupid and selfish! The nation held to ransom by a few selfish people. If they will not isolate, put them into quarantine in a hotel at their own expense, guarded by police and army for requisite time to be clear. These people are criminal, people are dying, businesses ruined. Time to get tough to bring numbers down."
And much more serious charges.
"If a person, who see it as their constitutional right not to wear a mask, is asymptomatic and infects another person or persons who subsequently dies from the infection, could they be charged with manslaughter or even murder?"
Maybe restrictions should ease
Let's roll the dice.
"Why are restrictions still occurring? I thought the idea was we needed them initially so hospitals had time to prepare for an influx. The hospitals are now ready so why can we not let the virus run its course? Don't get me wrong, I don't want it nor do I want my family to get COVID-19, but how long can society survive going in and out of lock downs? The solution shouldn't be worse than the virus. So many people will lose businesses, their homes, careers, their will to live because of risk."
We want to go on a cruise
Is it over yet?
"My husband and myself are avid cruisers and can't wait for ships to return to Australia. So far, Australian Border Force have banned ships until mid-September. With having to fly interstate for some cruise departures, quarantine on arrival in that state, then quarantine on disembarkation, it seems highly likely that cruise ships won't be in Australian waters for some time. If, realistically, it's not going to be till mid-late 2021, then say so. Moving the date forward three months at a time is ridiculous."
Kmart shoppers slam the retailer for empty shelves
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/kmart-shoppers-slam-the-retailer-for-empty-shelves/ar-BB17OimZ?ocid=msedgdhpAngry shoppers have slammed Kmart for advertising products that are no longer available due to stock shortages from COVID-19.
The retailer has copped scathing reviews from frustrated customers on social media after a number of items advertised in their latest catalog and online weren't available to purchase.
'Kmart is so disappointing, most of the shelves are empty, pointless bringing out a new catalog when there is no stock in store let alone online,' one Facebook comment reads.
'Frustrating when you purchase a whole bunch of things that were available for delivery and for your daughters new room only to be sent an email saying the quilt cover is unavailable and now I can’t find it anywhere,' another post reads.
'Why bother to show us when you don’t have the stock anywhere?' another comment reads.
The coronavirus period has sparked high demand for many of Kmart's most sought after products, leaving the retailers shelves bare.
'Unpredictable sales have seen stock flying out the door and into your homes, as we experience unusually high demand for some of our products in store and online,' a statement on Kmart Australia's website reads.
'We appreciate your support and we understand it’s been frustrating for many of our customers as we’re running low on certain items.
'Products on our website may also incorrectly appear as available in store and we are truly sorry to disappoint.'
Kmart ensured they are working tirelessly to meet the unexpected demand and are expecting more availability in stock in the coming weeks.
The business is among many Australian retailers struggling for stock from international supply chains and overseas manufacturers amid COVID-19.
Businesses use international sources such as China for their production base over Australia as it is much cheaper.
Retail experts said the lag in restocking shelves was due to the low-cost items being mass produced in China and other countries that were put in lockdown, putting production of some goods on hold for a period of time.
Consumer expert and researcher at QUT Gary Mortimer told Daily Mail Australia the stores were reliant on cheap overseas manufacturing.
'Australian discount department stores are heavily reliant on overseas production, whether that comes out of India, China, Pakistan or Bangladesh,' he said.
Mr Mortimer said production halts in supply networks have lead to empty shelves in Australian stores.
National Retail Association CEO Dominique Lamb told Daily Mail Australia stock levels should replenish after a disruptive period. 'COVID-19 has put a considerable strain on some global supply chains and therefore we're seeing some empty shelves at certain shops,' she said.
'In the same way that supermarket shelves are now back to normal, the same will occur at these discount stores,' Ms Lamb said.
Retail analyst Barry Urquhart told 7News local merchants must do better in using local supply networks.
'Unfortunately, Australian retailers are falling short of expectations,' he said. 'Sourcing products, locally, Australian-made, is very, very important.'
Under ACCC advertising sanctions retailers must clearly state if an item is in short supply.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kmart Australia for comment.
STILL - One third of Aussies rate virus like flu
<< PRETTY CLEAR TOO MANY PEOPLE LISTENING TO THE ULTRA-RIGHT WING TALKING HEARDS AND NOT STAYING ABREAST OF THE SCIENCE AND TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN BY FAKE SCIENCE AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES >>One third of Australians believe coronavirus is no more dangerous than a typical winter flu despite Victoria's rapidly rising death toll and high infection numbers.
19 people have died from the disease in the past 24 hours, taking the national toll to 331.
Deaths have almost doubled in the past 15 days.
An Essential poll of 1010 people found 32 % said the disease - which has killed 733,000 people worldwide - was no more dangerous than the flu.
Almost one in 10 say they'll never be vaccinated against the virus if a drug is developed.
While 56 % of respondents say they'll get the jab straight away, 35 % of people agree to being vaccinated but not immediately.
One fifth believe unproven malaria drug hydroxychloroquine has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment.
About 10 % of Greens voters would refuse a vaccine, with the figure rising to 21 % among other minor party supporters.
Just half of respondents trust the media to provide honest and objective information about coronavirus, while two-thirds trust the government to do the same.
The level of people very concerned about the disease has reached a new record at 50 %, with 40 % quite concerned.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison's approval rating has also reached a new high of 66 %, with 23 % saying they disapproved of his performance.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese approval remained flat at 44 %.
Mr Albanese's approval among Labor voters remains at 70 %, compared to Mr Morrison's approval among Coalition voters at 91 %.
The most important issue to voters is stopping community transmission of coronavirus with 62 per cent rating it as very important, outstripping economic management and job creation.
Reducing debt, working with international leaders and improving the education system were seen as being less important.
The ABC recorded a higher trust rating than the Commonwealth public service, with 58 per cent compared to 56 %.
State and federal health authorities were trusted by 69 per cent, slightly ahead of border security agencies at 67 %.
Commercial TV and radio news (45 %) and print media (39 %) were trusted by less than half of participants.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/one-third-of-aussies-rate-virus-like-flu/ar-BB17Oa2U?ocid=msedgdhp
11 AUGUST PNG
Papua New Guinea to lift lockdown despite surge in COVID-19 cases
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/papua-new-guinea-to-lift-lockdown-despite-surge-in-covid-19-cases/ar-BB17OaJq?ocid=msedgdhpapua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is pressing ahead with plans to lift lockdown measures in the Pacific nation this week, even as a recent sharp spike in coronavirus infections worries health officials.
Marape said a two-week lockdown in the capital of Port Moresby would be lifted from Wednesday, despite the country's reported cases of COVID-19 doubling over the past week.
"Whilst the spread is there, we have to adapt to living with COVID-19 this year, instead of taking on drastic measures," Marape told a news conference on Monday.
PNG had a total of 214 cases and three deaths as of Sunday, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported, up from 104 cases and one death the previous week.
More worryingly, WHO said it was likely the real infection numbers were much higher, given low rates of testing throughout the country.
"Testing in all provinces remains critically low, therefore ongoing transmission in other parts of the country is a possibility as population mobility continues," it said. "Testing needs to increase substantially to understand the extent of transmission."
Like many of its Pacific neighbours, Papua New Guinea appeared to escape the early clutches of the pandemic. But new cases in the past week were reported in nine provinces, including remote areas of the country, WHO said, adding the bulk of those had been traced back to Port Moresby.
The capital was placed in a two-week lockdown on July 28, with only essential businesses to operate, schools closed, and transport services stopped.
The government had halted entry for travellers except those arriving by air, late last month.
11 AUGUST NZ
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-11/coronavirus-live-blog-tuesday-august-11-victoria-19-deaths/12543432
Auckland locked down as Jacinda Ardern announces New Zealand's first coronavirus cases in 102 days
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-11/coronavirus-new-zealand-jacinda-ardern-auckland-stage-three/12547678Key points:
The four cases are all from the same family
Officials are investigating the source of the infection
Stage 3 restrictions will be imposed in Auckland for three days from today, while the rest of the country will move to stage 2 restrictions
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed four new cases of coronavirus, the country's first in 102 days.
The infected people are from the same family in south Auckland.
The source of their infection is unknown.
Ms Ardern said Auckland would now move to level three restrictions for three days as a "precautionary approach", while level two restrictions would be imposed in the rest of the country.
"While we have worked hard to avoid this scenario, we have also prepared for it," she said at an emergency press conference.
She said increased caution was required because the origin of the virus was unknown.
We have had a 102 days [without a new case] and it was easy to feel New Zealand was out of the woods," she said.
"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."
The first of the new cases, a person in their 50s, was swabbed on Monday after presenting to their GP.
The test was processed twice and returned two positive results.
The person has no history of overseas travel.
Health officials interviewed the first positive case, and all six of their family members in the same household were tested.
Three were negative and three were positive.
Close contacts have been tested and all remain in isolation for 14 days regardless of their test results.
Health officials are working to trace the origin of the infection and contact tracing is underway.
Ms Ardern said as part of the level three restrictions being imposed, travelling into Auckland would be prohibited for people who did not live in the city.
People will be asked to stay home from work and school, bars and many businesses will be closed and gatherings of more than 10 people are again restricted.
Under the level two restrictions applied to the rest of the country, social distancing measures will be applied again.
Ms Ardern urged people not to rush to supermarkets to stock up.
"We are defining the area covered as Auckland, as the geographic Auckland super city," Ms Ardern said.
Ms Ardern said: "We are not talking about one distinct suburb in Auckland.
"At this stage we have not been able to determine the source of these cases.
"We need to take a much more precautionary approach until we find the source of this case.
"As disruptive it is, a strong and rapid health response remains the best long-term economic response."
She encouraged people in the rest of the country to abide by the level two restrictions that would be imposed.
"That means social distancing applies and mass gathering will need to be limited to 100 people," she said.
"I know that this information will be very difficult to receive," Ms Ardern added.
"As a team, we have also been here before. We know if we have a plan and stick to it … we can work through it."
"We have come too far to go backwards.
"If you are in Auckland, make sure your neighbours are OK."
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/auckland-to-go-back-into-lockdown-after-new-zealand-records-first-community-coronavirus-cases-in-102-days
From 12pm local time on Wednesday, residents in Auckland will move back under Level 3 restrictions, the second harshest available.
The four new cases are linked to more than one workplace and may have spread to multiple suburbs, Ms Ardern said. The patients had no history of overseas travel or links to hotel quarantine facilities.
“I know that this information will be very difficult to receive,” Ms Ardern said.
“We have also been here before … if we have a plan and stick to it, we can work our way through difficult and unknown situations.”
Under the Level 3 restrictions, which will be in place until at least midnight on Friday, non-essential workers will have to work from home, with restaurants, bars and public facilities closed.
Schools will also shut to children of non-essential workers and gathering limits will apply to weddings and funerals.
The rest of the country will also move to Level 2 restrictions, with mass gatherings limited to 100 people.
Travel to Auckland from other areas will also be banned.
"Moving an entire city, and New Zealand's largest city, into Level 3 restrictions is not a decision we take lightly,” Ms Ardern said.
“This move means that we can be cautious, but also make sure that we have more information before we make any decisions that have a longer-term impact.
"Together we've beaten the virus before and with fast action and by acting together, we can beat it again. We have come too far to go backwards.”
Ashley Bloomfield, the chief executive of New Zealand's Ministry of Health, said while the new cases were concerning the country was "well-prepared" to fight them.
“We have been saying for some weeks that it was inevitable that New Zealand would get another case of community transmission,” he said.
“That time is now and the health system is well-prepared.”
Shortly after the announcement, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff urged residents to do the right thing.
"Please remain calm, please do not panic buy and please follow the lockdown rules," he tweeted.
The new cases come around a month out from New Zealand's election day.
The New Zealand First party, led by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, suspended its campaign following the announcement.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
<< SO I GUESS THE QLD – SA – TAS – SA - NZ TRAVEL BUBBLE IS ON HOLD >>
New Zealand retirement home in lockdown to test for COVID-19
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/new-zealand-retirement-home-in-lockdown-to-test-for-covid-19/ar-BB17O9hF?ocid=msedgdhpA New Zealand retirement village has gone into lockdown after residents displayed symptoms of respiratory illness, the New Zealand Herald reported on Tuesday.
The Village Palms retirement village in Christchurch advised of the lockdown in a letter to family members today, the newspaper said. No further details were immediately available.
New Zealand, which has managed to largely contain the spread of the coronavirus, has gone more than 100 days without community transmission of COVID-19.