Health

New Zealand reports 1st coronavirus-related death in over 6 months

Sydney, Australia, Sep 4 (EFE).- New Zealand on Saturday reported its first coronavirus-related death in over six months, the health ministry announced.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern lamented the death of a female Covid-19 patient, who was in her 90s.

It was the first Covid-19 death in New Zealand since mid-February. A total of 27 people have died from Covid-19 in the country since the pandemic began.

The death is a reminder of the importance of the measures imposed to curb the virus, Ardern said.

New Zealand’s government imposed a lockdown on 17 August after detecting the first local case since 28 February in the city of Auckland. 

The curbs were eased a couple of weeks later, except for Auckland, the epicenter of the current outbreak, which remains in lockdown.

A total of 20 fresh cases have been reported on Saturday, consolidating the downward trend in infections the country has been experiencing over the past few days.

New Zealand, which has a relatively slow vaccine rollout compared to other developed nations, had been lauded worldwide over effective handling of the pandemic through early lockdowns and travel bans.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, New Zealand has reported 3,392 cases. EFE

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