New Zealand Delays Election Due to Resurgence of Virus

TEHRAN (defapress)- New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday announced to delay the general election due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

News ID: 81801

Date: 17 August 2020 - 14:37

Addressing a news conference aired live from Auckland, Ardern said the re-emergence of coronavirus in the community was a “cause for concern” during the election period, Anadolu news agency reported.

Now, the election will be held on October 17 instead of September 19.

New Zealand reported nine more COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours. The country has witnessed a resurgence of the infection since early last week after a break of 102 days with no local cases.

So far, 1,631 people have contracted the virus nationwide and 22 have died.

The government imposed a lockdown in the capital of Auckland to stem the spread of the infection.

"COVID-19 will be with us for some time to come. Continuously pushing out an election does not lessen the risk of disruption and this is why the electoral commission has planned for the possibility of holding an election where the country is at level 2, and with some parts at level 3,” Ardern said.

The last general elections were held in September 2017.

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