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Seventy-eight new cases of COVID-19 reported in New Zealand

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 27 Mar 2020, 11:50 pm Print

Seventy-eight new cases of COVID-19 reported in New Zealand

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Wellington/Xinhua: New Zealand reported 78 new confirmed and five probable cases of COVID-19 on Saturday morning, bringing the total number of infections to 451 in the country.

Director of New Zealand Civil Defence Emergency Management Sarah Stuart-Black gave the update.

Some 50 people have recovered while 12 people are in hospital. Two people are in intensive care, one of whom is on a ventilator, said Stuart-Black.


She urged people to be kind to each other and said there have been reports of online abuse towards people who contracted COVID-19. "We need to look out for each other now more than ever," said Stuart-Black.

While most of the COVID-19 cases confirmed in New Zealand are related to people who have overseas travel history, five clusters of community transmission in the country have been confirmed.

New Zealand has entered into a national lockdown from 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday. People are urged to stay at home unless purchasing essential food and supplies.

John Ombler, the All of Government Controller, said the New Zealand government was very pleased with how New Zealanders are doing in the lockdown.

"Stick to your bubble," reiterated Ombler.