She’s also planning to impose severe restrictions across the entire country.
As Omicron tightens its hold over New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is planning to place the entire country under harsh restrictions, forcing the PM to cancel her own wedding to Clarke Gayford, which was set to take place in the coming weeks in Gisborne on the eastern coast.
In the coming weeks, the country is expected to reach 1,000 cases every day, and then thousands per day. Throughout media sources, Ardern was cited as saying, “Omicron has entered New Zealand’s boundaries and begun spreading in the community.” “I understand that hearing these kinds of case statistics is quite alarming. We’ll do everything we can to halt the spread of the disease and reduce the number of cases we see as a country.”
Nine cases of Omicron had been discovered among a family who had traveled to Auckland for a wedding, according to the Prime Minister. According to The Guardian, Ardern added, “That indicates Omicron is already circulating across Auckland and possibly the Nelson Marlborough region, if not elsewhere.”
By Sunday midnight, New Zealand would be on a “red” alert, meaning that companies and schools would remain open and domestic travel would be permitted, but masks would be required, gathering sizes would be limited, and immunization passes would be required for most non-essential businesses.
“Such is life,” Ardern reportedly said about her wedding cancellation. I am no different from thousands of other New Zealanders who have suffered far more severe consequences as a result of the pandemic. The inability to be with a loved one when they are critically ill is the most heartbreaking. That will far outweigh any sadness I may feel.”
She also discussed the significance of booster shots. According to The Guardian, she stated, “Omicron is already in more than 80 countries around the world — by postponing its arrival here, we’ve had time to start boosters, immunizations for children, and (to) prepare.”