New Zealand set a 90% vaccination target on Friday to end lockdowns, while Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern unveiled a plan to open despite the stubborn grip of the Delta variant.
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"We looked at all the evidence, spoke to experts, studied the modeling of our situation and set a goal of 90% full vaccination for every DHB (health district) in New Zealand,"
Jacinda Ardern told reporters on Friday. .
"We cannot ask vaccinated people to stay at home forever,"
she added, shifting her goal of completely eliminating Covid-19 to minimizing its spread in the community by stepping up the vaccination.
About 86% of eligible New Zealanders have received their first dose of vaccine and 68% are fully immunized.
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Jacinda Ardern received widespread praise for her initial response to the coronavirus, which involved strict containment measures, rigorous contact tracing and strict border restrictions. Its “zero Covid” policy has only killed 28 people out of a population of five million and life has been almost normal for long periods of time. But the prime minister said the strategy was no longer viable due to the highly infectious Delta variant detected in Auckland in August.
“Its tentacles have reached our communities and it is difficult to get rid of it, even using the best public health measures and the strictest restrictions available to us
,” she said.
Ms Ardern said the new policy will give hope to nearly two million Auckland residents who have been under draconian restrictions for nine weeks.
“If you want summer, if you want to go to bars and restaurants, get the shot,”
she said.
"If you are vaccinated you will be able to enjoy the things you love, being sure that the people around you and the environment you find yourself in are as safe as possible in the world of Covid,"
she said. added.
