18 Aug 2021

Covid-19: What Jacinda Ardern told the country

From Morning Report, 6:08 am on 18 August 2021

New Zealand is now in alert level 4. Health officials are working around the clock to establish how a 58-year-old Devenport man became infected - with one modelling expert saying there's a chance more than 100 people could now have the virus, if no clear link to the border is established. Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula will remain under the tightest restrictions for seven days, while it's at least three days for the rest of the country. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told last night's news conference the Government's not taking any chances. She says the simplest thing New Zealanders can do to stop the spread is to stay at home. The Government has given people 48 hours to get home and rebooted its wage subsidy scheme and Resurgence Support Payment scheme to support businesses across the country. Employers can apply for the wage subsidy scheme from Friday if they expect a loss of at least 40 percent revenue due to the lockdown. Applications for the Resurgence Support Payment scheme - which businesses can use to cover costs other than wages if they experience at least a 30 percent drop in revenue - are expected to open next week Finance Minister Grant Robertson says the economic cost to the country of this lockdown will be at least $920 million.