More restrictions in New Zealand, Spain to fight Covid

Wellington, August 14

The New Zealand's Government on Friday extended a lockdown of its largest city Auckland for another 12 days as it tries to stamp out its first domestic coronavirus outbreak in more than three months. The outbreak has grown to 30 people and extended beyond Auckland for the first time. Until the cluster was discovered Tuesday, New Zealand had gone 102 days without infections spreading in the community. The only known cases were travellers quarantined after arriving from abroad.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said extending the Auckland lockdown, which began on Wednesday, would give authorities time to get a handle on the virus cluster and isolate those infected.

In Spain, Health Minister Salvador Illa has announced a range of new nationwide restrictions to help fight a surge in Covid cases. Illa said after an emergency meeting Friday with leaders of Spain's autonomous regions that authorities are shutting all discos and night clubs across Spain. Visits to nursing homes are limited to one person a day for each resident for only one hour. People are prohibited from smoking in public areas if they are unable to keep at least 2 meters (6.5 feet) away from others. — AP

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