WELLINGTON: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she doesn’t want to use lockdowns in the future and sees vaccinations as the “golden ticket” to navigating the pandemic.
Her remarks came as Auckland remained in a sixth week of lockdown following an outbreak of the coronavirus’ delta variant.
New Zealand has taken an unusual zero-tolerance approach to the virus and is trying to completely eliminate the outbreak in its largest city through drastic measures, at least until vaccination rates improve. Fifteen more local transmissions were reported Thursday.
Ardern says she sees a hopeful path in using vaccinations coupled with public health measures to prevent widespread hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. About 62 percent of New Zealanders have had at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine.
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New Zealand’s PM hopes to avoid future coronavirus lockdowns
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New Zealand’s PM hopes to avoid future coronavirus lockdowns
- New Zealand has taken an unusual zero-tolerance approach to the coronavirus
Two airports in Poland closed due to Russian strikes on Ukraine
- Airports in Rzeszow and Lublin have temporarily suspended flight operations
- Both cities are close to the country’s border with Ukraine
WARSAW: Two airports in southeastern Poland were suspended from operations as a precaution due to Russian strikes on nearby Ukraine territory, Polish authorities said on Saturday.
“In connection with the need to ensure the possibility of the free operation of military aviation, the airports in Rzeszow and Lublin have temporarily suspended flight operations,” Polish Air Navigation Services Agency posted on X.
Both cities are close to the country’s border with Ukraine, with Rzeszow being NATO’s main hub for arms supplies to Ukraine.
Military aviation had begun operating in Polish airspace due to Russian strikes on Ukraine, the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said on X.
“These actions are of a preventive nature and are aimed at securing and protecting the airspace, particularly in areas adjacent to the threatened regions,” the army said.
Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 posted on X that the closure involved NATO aircraft operating in the area.
The US Federal Aviation Administration said in a notice to airmen that both airports were inaccessible due to the military activity related to ensuring state security.
Last month, Rzeszow and Lublin suspended operations for a time, but the authorities said then that the military aviation operations were routine and there had been no threat to Polish airspace.
“In connection with the need to ensure the possibility of the free operation of military aviation, the airports in Rzeszow and Lublin have temporarily suspended flight operations,” Polish Air Navigation Services Agency posted on X.
Both cities are close to the country’s border with Ukraine, with Rzeszow being NATO’s main hub for arms supplies to Ukraine.
Military aviation had begun operating in Polish airspace due to Russian strikes on Ukraine, the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said on X.
“These actions are of a preventive nature and are aimed at securing and protecting the airspace, particularly in areas adjacent to the threatened regions,” the army said.
Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 posted on X that the closure involved NATO aircraft operating in the area.
The US Federal Aviation Administration said in a notice to airmen that both airports were inaccessible due to the military activity related to ensuring state security.
Last month, Rzeszow and Lublin suspended operations for a time, but the authorities said then that the military aviation operations were routine and there had been no threat to Polish airspace.
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