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Auckland, the city at the centre of New Zealand's Covid outbreak, will remain in level 3 lockdown for another two weeks, despite rising vaccination levels. The decision from prime minister Jacinda Ardern comes as experts remain concerned that an early move out of lockdown could be disastrous, and risk overwhelming the health system.
Auckland is closing in on 90% of its population having had one shot; 89% of the region's population has now had at least one dose, and 70% are fully vaccinated.
Across the country,
82% of the eligible population (those aged 12 and over) have had at least one vaccination, or 70% of the total population; 64% of the eligible population, or
55% of the full population are fully inoculated with both shots.
Ardern has
not yet announced a specific point in vaccination levels where restrictions will be loosened, but has previously ruled out dropping public health measures before the country reaches 90%. She said on Monday afternoon that restrictions would be needed for a while longer to avoid a spike in cases.
"If we get this right, if we keep case numbers low while we vaccinate people then it makes it easier for us to keep control of Covid, while we ease restrictions in the future, and that is everyone's goal," she said. "The question for cabinet today has been how do we avoid a spike in case numbers, and hospitalisations, and protect vulnerable communities as much as possible in the coming weeks, while we keep lifting vaccination numbers."
Comment: Taking the lipstick off the pig, so's to speak! In an increasingly polarized America, the battle is for the 'in between'.