Civil Defence / Health

Coronavirus: Breaking rules could kill - Jacinda Ardern

06:37 am on 26 March 2020

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New Zealanders are waking up to a new reality - the country in isolation, to protect tens of thousands of New Zealanders from an invisible enemy - Covid-19.

As of midnight, everyone apart from essential workers must now stay at home.

Yesterday the government declared a state of emergency, giving it and civil defence sweeping powers to help enforce alert level four and contain the virus.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she doesn't underestimate the gravity of what New Zealanders are being asked to do - but warns breaking the rules could risk killing someone close to you.