Auckland schools reopened on Monday August 31, as New Zealand's largest city emerged from nearly three weeks of lockdown, with authorities showing confidence that the second wave of the epidemic was ebbing.
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Residents of the large North Island city were allowed to leave their homes again, but gatherings of more than ten people outside of schools were still prohibited. Wearing a mask is also compulsory in public transport throughout the country.
Confined after discovery of ... 12 cases
Containment had been ordered in Auckland after the discovery on August 12 of four cases in the metropolitan area, which had interrupted a series of 102 days without any local contamination. A total of 141 people have since been infected. The origin of the source of infection has not yet been determined, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has deemed it inevitable that new cases will be identified in the coming days.
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Nevertheless, she felt that it was now opportune to lift the confinement. “ We have a plan that will work, ” she told reporters in Auckland. “ Everyone has to respect him. Jacinda Ardern, who postponed the legislative elections scheduled for September by one month, urged her compatriots to " play their part " in the fight against the coronavirus. “ It's natural to feel tired, the whole world does, ” she said. “ But compared to the others, we are doing very well. "