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New Zealanders are dying at COVID-19 at record speeds, especially as they fight a new wave of Omicron strains affecting the elderly.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, the number of deaths from the virus reached 151 in the seven days leading up to July 16, and reached 115 in March, the worst week of the previous wave. The ministry said in a statement on Friday that 26 people had died of COVID in the last 24 hours and all were over 60 years old.
The Omicron BA.5 subvariant is driving the current wave of New Zealand with a population of 5.1 million. According to authorities, many infectious diseases have not been reported, but there have been 64,780 active cases in the last 7 days.
Australia’s Omicron outbreak surges to COVID deaths
Once considered a model for preventing COVID infections, New Zealand was largely free from the virus until the end of last year due to its rapid pandemic response and geographical isolation.
The government withdrew its zero-corona policy this year after most of its population was vaccinated. Since then, the spread of the virus has been allowed.
Emergency departments, general clinics and medical centers are under pressure. However, according to health ministry data, hospitalization levels are below the levels seen at the peak in March.
The New Zealand Government is resisting pressure from some doctors to revive the curb of the rally and to require masks to be worn at school.
However, Ministry of Education Secretary Iona Holstead said Thursday that he advised the school to force the children to wear masks as much as possible when they returned from next week’s vacation.
New Zealand cannot completely eradicate the coronavirus, the government says
“I understand that implementing a mask policy can be difficult, but I encourage you to take action to strengthen your mask wearing policy as soon as possible,” she said.