WELLINGTON (NEW ZEALAND) – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Wednesday that more troops will be deployed at its quarantine facilities and border to curb the spread of infections. This comes as the country reported five new cases on Wednesday.
With the deployment of 500 more personnel, the number of troops engaged in COVID prevention activities will go up to 1,200. It is the largest military contingent the country has deployed ever since it sent peacekeeping troops to East Timor in the early 2000s.
“There’s nothing to date that has tracked this particular cluster we are dealing with to the border, but nonetheless we want that to be as tight as possible,” Ardern said.
“The roll out of our resurgence plan is working as we intended,” Ardern said, adding she would not increase the restrictions imposed in Auckland.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field