Better times coming: Jacinda Ardern on New Zealand’s record COVID case

For the first time in the pandemic, New Zealand passed 200 daily cases of COVID. This placed the nation on a trajectory of worry as experts are of the opinion that the growing outbreak may overwhelm the country’s health care system.

On Saturday, New Zealand announced 206 new cases. Out of the new cases, 200 were based in Auckland that is the city at the center of the outbreak. As the new cases were announced, 73 people were hospitalised and 7 were admitted to intensive care.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promised better times ahead: “To all of New Zealand, but especially Auckland, I say: he ra ki tua, better times are coming.”

The comments by her were made at the Labour party conference.

“Over the coming weeks, we will see the level of protection in our communities increase as more people are vaccinated. In fact, we’re on track to have amongst the highest vaccination rates in the world, already having overtaken the likes of Australia, the US, the UK, France, Germany and Ireland.”

89% of eligible New Zealanders have had their first dose and 78% are immunised, the Ministry of Health said.

In recent weeks, New Zealand’s climbing numbers outperformed its vaccinations and its rollout. Among Maori and Pacific New Zealanders, vaccination rates are low. 74% of eligible Maori have already had one dose of vaccination. 56% of them are fully vaccinated.

Health authorities said that the Maori and Pasifika would be affected the most if there is a widespread outbreak.

Talking about higher vaccination rates, Ardern said: “Not every Covid case will trigger the anxiety of sudden lockdowns, but it will also mean that we continue to treat COVID seriously and take measures to protect people from it.”

“Life may be different for a time, but it can and will feel more familiar again. And after so much disruption, so much anxiety, everyone deserves that,” she said.