WELLINGTON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand will move to Red Light settings from 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Sunday at an unscheduled media conference.
According to the Red Light settings under the COVID-19 Protection Framework, gatherings will be limited to 100 people in places where COVID-19 vaccine passports are used.
The prime minister confirmed that nine COVID-19 cases reported in the Nelson Marlborough region had the Omicron variant. A further case was confirmed late Saturday. The infected people had attended wedding events in the largest city Auckland.
Director-General of Health from the Ministry of Health Ashley Bloomfield said that the risk of transmission by the confirmed Omicron cases is considered high. The source of the infection is not known.
Ardern urged the public to get their booster jab of the COVID-19 vaccination. "Get boosted, and it makes all the differences."
She also urged the public to get tested if they had symptoms.
At Red Light settings, hospitality businesses are open but are capped at 100 people, and customers are seated. Workplaces will be open but employees can choose to work from home. Mask wearing is required for many indoor places and is highly recommended. ■
