'Corona-Clean Country' New Zealand Reports 4 New COVID-19 Cases After 102 Days

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Kim] New Zealand has reported new COVID-19 cases for the first time in 102 days.

On the 11th (local time), New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced in Auckland that four new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases had been confirmed, according to AFP and Bloomberg. All four cases are from the same household, and the source of infection is unknown.

Prime Minister Ardern stated, "We have worked hard to prevent such an incident, but new COVID-19 cases have emerged in the community for the first time in 102 days, outside of quarantine or isolation facilities for overseas arrivals."

Health authorities have imposed a lockdown on Auckland for at least three days starting from the 12th and mandated social distancing in some other regions.

Additionally, authorities are tracing the movements of the confirmed cases.

Since May 1, New Zealand had reported no community transmission cases, and the government declared the country 'COVID-free' as of June 8.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.