WELLINGTON — New Zealand registered its first coronavirus death in more than three months on Friday when a man in his 50s died at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital where he was receiving treatment.
He is the youngest person whose death has been linked to the virus in New Zealand and the first virus-related death here since May 28.
The total number of Covid-19 related fatalities in New Zealand is now 23.
The man was a father of four and worked at Mt Wellington coolstore Americold, with the man who was the cluster's index case. At least 10 people associated with Americold have tested positive to coronavirus. That includes seven employees and three contractors.
The first case of community transmission in New Zealand for over 100 days involved someone from the Americold cool-store facility in Mt Wellington. It forced Auckland into an alert level 3 lockdown and the rest of New Zealand to alert level 2.
On Aug. 18, Director-General of health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield said it was highly unlikely that the cool store was the source of the community cluster.
"I acknowledge the anxiety New Zealanders may be feeling about today's news, both in the wider community and also for the family and relatives grieving over this death," Bloomfield said in a statement.
"Our thoughts are with his family and community at this time of loss and grief."
"We have always recognized that further deaths linked to coronavirus were possible," Bloomfield said.
"Today's news reinforces the importance of our shared vigilance against coronavirus, the very serious consequences the virus can carry with it."
While Aucklanders were allowed out of their homes this week, the government limited non-school social gatherings in the city of 1.5 million to 10 people and made masks compulsory on public transport nationwide.
Health authorities said earlier on Friday, before the latest death was announced, that the restriction would remain in place until at least Sept. 16. — Agencies
