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NZ ditches COVID elimination strategy as delta sweeps
New Zealand has dropped its COVID elimination strategy insisting the nation will learn to live with the virus
New Zealand officially abandoned its strategy of eliminating COVID-19 moving to ease some restrictions in the city of Auckland.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the nation will instead look to live with the virus while controlling its spread.
The Pacific nation was among just a handful of countries to bring COVID-19 cases down to zero last year and largely stayed virus-free until an outbreak of the highly infections Delta variant in mid-August frustrated efforts to stamp out transmission.
“With this outbreak and Delta the return to zero is incredibly difficult,”
Ardern told a news conference.
“This is a change in approach we were always going to make over time. Our Delta outbreak has accelerated this transition. Vaccines will support it,”
Health authorities reported 29 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, taking the total number in the current outbreak to 1,357.
The majority of the cases are in Auckland, which has been in lockdown for nearly 50 days
Amid mounting pressure, the Prime Minister has said her strategy was never to have zero cases, but to aggressively stamp out the virus.
Strict lockdowns will end once 90% of the eligible population is vaccinated
“It’s clear that a long period of heavy restrictions has not got us to zero cases. But its ok…elimination was important because we didn’t have vaccinations. Now we do. So we can begin to change the way we do things,”
Under new changes in Auckland, people will be able to leave their homes to connect with loved ones outdoors from Wednesday, with a limit of 10 people.
New rules added to international arrivals:
The government also announced that all foreign nationals entering New Zealand will need to be fully vaccinated from November 1.
Travellers will have to declare their vaccination status when registering with the country’s isolation system and provide proof of vaccination or exemption to their airline and customs officers on landing, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said in a statement.
“To further reduce the possibility of the virus getting through our border, we are introducing the requirement for air travellers aged 17 and over, who are not New Zealand citizens, to be fully vaccinated to enter New Zealand,”
Hipkins said
Those arriving in New Zealand will still have to spend 14 days in quarantine, and all travelers, except for those coming from locations with an exemption, will still need to show a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours of their first scheduled international flight.
What’s happening in the Middle East?
- President Donald Trump says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed.
- Trump describes the moment as the greatest opportunity for the Iranian people to “take back their country”.
- Iran insists its leader is “firmly commanding the field”.
- Israel and the U.S. have carried out strikes on Iran.
- Impacts have been reported in Israel and across Gulf states as Iran launches retaliatory attacks.
- The escalation has sparked fear and panic, with civilians fleeing major cities.
News
U.S. and Israel strike Iran as missiles hit Gulf bases and oil surges
U.S. and Israel launch major military operation against Iran; tensions rise as conflict escalates, impacting global markets.
U.S. and Israel launch major military operation against Iran; tensions rise as conflict escalates, impacting global markets.
The United States and Israel have launched a sweeping military operation against Iran, striking leadership targets and more than 500 military sites in what President Trump has dubbed Operation Epic Fury.
Explosions have rocked Tehran, with civilians fleeing the capital as U.S. sea and air assets carry out sustained attacks. Washington says the mission is designed to prevent a nuclear armed Iran and has even called on Iranians to rise up against the regime.
Iran has retaliated with a barrage of missiles and drones targeting Israel and U.S. bases across the region, including in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. While many projectiles were intercepted, a U.S. base in Bahrain sustained damage.
Gulf states long seen as stable hubs for global business are now directly in the firing line, raising fears of a wider regional war.
Oil prices are climbing and tankers are diverting from the Strait of Hormuz as markets react to the escalating conflict. U.S. aircraft carriers, advanced fighter jets and missile destroyers remain in position, signalling more strikes could follow.
With global leaders scrambling diplomatically, the world is watching to see whether this spirals further or shifts back to negotiations.
News
Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz
Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions and military buildup in the region
Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions and military buildup in the region
– Iran’s Guard Corps advises ships to avoid the Strait of Hormuz due to rising tensions.
– Tankers have diverted to Qatar and UAE amidst concerns over safety and potential Iranian threats.
Ships have been repeatedly warned against entering the strait, as stated by crews in the area and the European Union’s naval command, Aspides. On Saturday, dozens of tankers diverted, with some seeking refuge in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates while others opted to steer clear of the region, as reported by oil brokers and shipowners.
Shipping Concerns
Tensions continue to impact shipping operations as carriers remain cautious in the Gulf region.
Tanker crews reported hearing explosions near Iran’s Kharg Island, which is vital for the country’s oil exports, as it handles 90% of its crude oil shipments.
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