New Zealand suffers two coronavirus deaths in just 24 hours including a former Cook Islands PM

A former prime minister of the Cook Islands turned Auckland GP is one of two people in New Zealand to die from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

Joe Williams, 85, and an Auckland father-of-four aged in his 50s succumbed to the deadly virus in New Zealand, after 99 days without any loss of life.

Aotearoa enjoyed 102 days without cases of in the community before the emergence of a new cluster in Auckland.

On Saturday, health officials announced another two cases linked to that cluster, as well as a third new case picked up within the country’s border regime.

There are currently 112 active cases in New Zealand, with one receiving treatment in an intensive care unit in Waikato Hospital.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters said he was saddened by Dr Williams’ passing.

‘As a doctor, a health researcher and as a politician, Dr Williams made a serious mark on the communities he served. He will be greatly missed in both New Zealand and the Cook Islands,’ he said.

‘Dr Williams was a dedicated and passionate man. He was an enduring example of a Cook Islander who came to New Zealand for education, and then made a real difference in his chosen career.’

Dr Williams was a one-time candidate for Mr Peters’ NZ First party.

The two new deaths have lifted New Zealand’s death tally to 24. ‘

‘I acknowledge the anxiety New Zealanders may be feeling about today’s news, both in the wider community and also for the family and whanau (relatives) grieving over this death,’ health chief Ashley Bloomfield said in a statement following the death of the man in his 50s.

‘Our thoughts are with his family and community at this time of loss and grief.’ 

The Auckland cluster emerged in a family-of-four and has since grown to 152, including three new cases recorded on Friday.

It has proved difficult to eliminate despite a two-and-a-half week lockdown in Auckland that ended on Sunday night.

‘We have always recognised that further deaths linked to Covid-19 were possible,’ Bloomfield said.

‘Today’s news reinforces the importance of our shared vigilance against Covid-19, 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.

Authorities said earlier on Friday, before the latest death was announced, that the restriction would remain in place until at least September 16.

The source of the Auckland cluster remains unknown but genome testing indicates it is not linked to the virus strain that New Zealand experienced earlier this year, which was largely eliminated in a seven-week lockdown that began in late March.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said indications were that the Auckland cluster was contained but there was no room for complacency.

‘We’ve been prepared and, by going hard and early, particularly with Aucklanders pitching in, we look at this early stage to have contained our resurgence,’ she told reporters.

‘But (there are) also areas which suggestion caution is very much required… every country has faced second outbreaks in this global pandemic, and some have turned into significant second waves.’

New Zealand, with its low death rate of 24 in a population of five million, has been hailed as one of the countries most successful in handling the virus.

Its response to the latest outbreak has included a blitz of around 600,000 tests in recent weeks, accompanied by extensive contact tracing and the pre-emptive quarantine of close contacts linked to confirmed cases.