23 Mar 2020

PM Jacinda Ardern explains Covid-19 lockdown in NZ

From Checkpoint, 6:17 pm on 23 March 2020

The Prime Minister has announced New Zealand will go into total lockdown by Wednesday afternoon to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Jacinda Ardern said without upgrading to Alert Level 4 quickly, tens of thousands of New Zealanders could die.

From Tuesday schools will close and by Wednesday all businesses, restaurants bars and gyms will be forced to close too.

Supermarkets, pharmacies, medical services and gas stations are exempt and will remain open.

The lockdown will last for at least four weeks.