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New Zealand imposes 12-day lockdown in Auckland as it battles fresh Covid-19 outbreak

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New Zealand imposes 12-day lockdown in Auckland as it battles fresh Covid-19 outbreak
Solely 5 days in the past, New Zealand was marking an enviable milestone — 100 days with none neighborhood transmission. However this week has demonstrated how briskly that may change, even in a rustic like New Zealand which has been held up as a world leader for its dealing with of the virus.

On Friday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern introduced that Auckland — town of round 1.5 million folks on the heart of the brand new outbreak — will stay beneath a stage three lockdown for one more 12 days, whereas the remainder of the nation stays beneath stage two restrictions, that means gatherings are restricted to not more than 100 folks. The foundations lengthen restrictions that got here into impact earlier this week.

Underneath stage three restrictions, folks shall be advised to remain house apart for important private motion, colleges will function at restricted capability, and public venues such as museums, playgrounds and gymnasiums will stay shut.

The fresh outbreak is a blow for New Zealand. The nation already spent 5 weeks beneath one of many world’s strictest lockdowns, which closed most companies and colleges, and noticed folks keep at house.

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Ardern has warned she expects to see extra instances.

“Lifting restrictions now and seeing an explosion of instances is the worst factor we may do for Auckland and for the New Zealand economic system,” she mentioned. “We’ve got removed Covid earlier than … We will do all of that once more.”

Earlier Friday, New Zealand’s Director Common of Well being Dr. Ashley Bloomfield introduced one other 12 locally-transmitted coronavirus instances. There are actually 49 lively instances in New Zealand to 49, 29 of that are linked to the latest outbreak.
The instances are all in Auckland aside from two in Tokoroa, a city of 24,000 about 200km (124 miles) south of town. In keeping with the Ministry of Well being, these two examined constructive after a go to from a contact of one of many Auckland instances.

In a press convention Friday, Bloomfield mentioned that 771 shut contacts of the confirmed instances had been recognized, and greater than 15,700 checks had been processed on Thursday — the very best variety of checks processed in a single day in the nation.

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For the reason that begin of the outbreak, New Zealand has performed greater than 500,000 checks. It has reported a complete of 1,251 coronavirus instances, together with 22 deaths.

What brought about the outbreak?

There’s nonetheless a serious, unanswered query: How did this outbreak occur?

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The distant island nation imposed strict border controls again in March, that means that, for essentially the most half, solely New Zealanders are allowed into the nation — and people who do arrive from overseas must spend 14 days in state quarantine services. In keeping with the Ministry of Well being, 68% of New Zealand’s instances are imported or linked to imported instances.
One doable reason for this newest outbreak is that coronavirus by some means obtained out of New Zealand’s state quarantine services. That is what Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told Australian nationwide broadcaster ABC, saying: “I believe there was a breach in our quarantine system.”
There have been breaches in New Zealand earlier than — in July, a person cut through a fence at a managed isolation facility to go to a liquor retailer, and one other man who later examined constructive for coronavirus broke out of a facility and visited a grocery store. Quarantine facility breaches have been linked to an outbreak in the Australian state of Victoria, which is at present beneath lockdown.
A pedestrian walks past a social distancing sign on August 14, 2021 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Up to now, authorities have not discovered a match between the genome concerned in this newest outbreak and any instances in managed isolation services. Bloomfield mentioned the brand new instances most intently resemble the genome patterns from the UK and Australia.

Bloomfield thinks the outbreak may have come in via the isolation services quite than being in current for months in New Zealand.

“I believe there’s excellent proof to recommend that it hasn’t been lurking in the neighborhood,” he mentioned. Ardern mentioned Friday that the pressure in the brand new outbreak shouldn’t be the identical as one which beforehand existed in New Zealand.

Authorities are additionally testing samples from surfaces at Americold, an American temperature-controlled warehouse firm the place one of many unique 4 to check constructive labored. A variety of instances have been linked to the corporate.

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However Ardern mentioned that, for now, authorities didn’t know the way the outbreak occurred.

“We don’t essentially must reply that query to cope with this cluster successfully,” she mentioned.

Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield speaks to media during a press conference at Parliament on August 14, 2021 in Wellington, New Zealand.

How New Zealand compares

New Zealand’s fresh outbreak has drawn parallels with Australia and Hong Kong — each locations that imposed strict border measures after they had low an infection numbers and appeared to have the virus beneath management, solely to expertise a reemergence of the virus.

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Within the Australian state of Victoria, a lockdown has been imposed and a curfew put in place in Melbourne. As of Thursday, Victoria — a state of round 6 million people — had greater than 7,800 active cases of coronavirus, and 275 deaths.
In Hong Kong — house to round 7.5 million people — there are round 1,000 active cases, together with 32 in a important situation. Sixty-six folks have died. Regardless of the present outbreak, town has not imposed a lockdown, though folks must wear masks in public or face a effective, public gatherings are restricted to 2 folks, and eating places and bars should shut at evening aside from takeaways.

On Thursday, Ardern famous that New Zealand had imposed restrictions inside 24 hours of the primary new neighborhood coronavirus instances — a response which she mentioned was sooner than in Hong Kong or Victoria.

“The tempo and velocity must also act as an additional layer of reassurance,” she mentioned Thursday, earlier than reiterating the mantra she has been saying for the reason that begin of the outbreak: “Going laborious and early remains to be the most effective plan of action.”

CNN’s Isaac Yee contributed to this story.

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Coon Rapids Shooting: One Casualty Reported, Investigation Continues to Find Suspect 

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Coon Rapids Shooting: One Casualty Reported, Investigation Continues to Find Suspect 

A shooting incident reportedly occurred at a YMCA in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.

The crime news was first reported by a social media page, Twin Cities Crime Watch & Information. According to the page, the suspects arrived in a red sedan occupied by four Somalis.

Twin Cities Crime Watch & Information posted,

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“Coon Rapids – SHOOTING at the YMCA, 8950 Springbrook Dr., occurred inside. Suspects in a red sedan, occupied by four Somalis. Partial plate contains JW*25.”

According to Times Now, a statement was received by the Coon Rapids Police Department where it stated that when police were reported, they responded immediately. 

Officers arrived at the scene around 7:58 p.m. on Friday and found one person suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was immediately transported to a local hospital.

The police shared on their Facebook page,

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“Friday night the Coon Rapids Police Department was dispatched to the Emma B. Howe YMCA on a report of gunshots. Officers arrived at the scene to find one person struck by gunfire. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. Currently, their condition is unknown.”

‘Shooting Was Not Random’

The police announced that they believe the shooting at the YMCA in Coon Rapids was not random.

Detectives from the Coon Rapids Police Department were present at the scene and actively investigating the matter.

The police have urged the public to provide any information about the incident by calling 763-427-1212.

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As of now, no information is available regarding the person responsible for the shooting, and the circumstances surrounding the incident are still unknown.

Update

The police have revealed the identity of the victim. According to CBS News, the victim is a 16-year-old male.

The YMCA will be under lockdown on Saturday and Sunday, with regular scheduling expected to resume on Monday.

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Also Read: Fairfield Mall Shooting Update: Suspects Caught, Huge Vehicles Found in Beavercreek

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Sachin Sahoo: Bipolar Indian-Origin Man Shot Dead By US Police 

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On April 21, Sachin Sahoo, an Indian-origin man, was shot by a San Antonio police officer. According to the Deccan Herald, when the officers attempted to apprehend Sachin, he struck two officers with his vehicle.

Sachin Sahoo was being pursued in connection with an aggravated assault case.

Originally from Uttar Pradesh, India, Sachin Sahoo was declared dead at the scene.

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Sources from PTI claimed that Sachin Sahoo might have been a naturalized U.S. citizen. As per the preliminary investigation, on April 21, just before 6:30 PM, officers were called to a home in Cheviot Heights, San Antonio.

They were responding to a report of an ‘Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.’

Upon arrival, the officers discovered a 51-year-old woman who had been deliberately hit by Sachin Sahoo’s vehicle.

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After hitting the woman, Sachin Sahoo fled the scene.

The 51-year-old victim was transported to a nearby hospital and was in critical condition.

Consequently, a felony arrest warrant was issued in the name of Sahoo by the San Antonio Police Detectives.

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Later that evening, neighbors informed the police that Sahoo had returned to his original location.

When two officers arrived at the scene and attempted to make contact, Sachin struck both with his vehicle. One of them shot Sahoo, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

One officer was treated at the scene, while the other was taken to a local hospital.

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Police Chief Bill McManus stated that Sachin’s actions also left his roommate in critical condition. The woman underwent multiple surgeries.

According to Outlook India, when officers approached to arrest Sachin, he “got into his car and managed to squeeze through the police vehicles blocking his driveway.” In the process, he also hit the officers.

Subsequently, another officer stopped Sachin by firing at him.

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About Sachin Sahoo

Leah Goldstein, Sahoo’s ex-wife, revealed that her ex-husband had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and also exhibited symptoms of schizophrenia.

She added, ‘He has suffered for the past ten years with bipolar disorder. He also had symptoms of schizophrenia. He couldn’t understand what was wrong with him.’

In a news report, she said, ‘He would hear voices, hallucinate, and just get stuck in his own mind.’”

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Billionaire Stewart Butterfield’s 16 YO Daughter Mint Butterfield Goes Missing After ‘Running Away’

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16 YO Mint Butterfield Went Missing After 'Running Away'

Mint Butterfield, the 16-year-old daughter of Stewart Butterfield, has recently gone missing, according to People magazine. It is alleged that she ran away.

According to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, she was last spotted on April 21, Sunday around 10 p.m. in Bolinas, California.

On Monday, April 22, at 8:30 a.m., authorities posted a notice on Nextdoor revealing that Mint Butterfield had been reported missing.

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Search Efforts for the Teenager

Authorities described the 16-year-old as 5’0″ tall and weighing 100 lbs. She has pierced brows and brown/reddish curly hair.

Reportedly, she was wearing black boots, flannel pajama pants, and a black sweatshirt. Additionally, she might be carrying a gray suitcase.

Deputy K. Walther of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office announced that the 16-year-old is believed to have run away to the San Francisco area.

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Sgt. Adam Schermerhorn and detectives from the San Francisco Police Department are collaborating to locate the teen.

Mint Butterfield’s Parents: Stewart Butterfield and Caterina Fake 

Caterina Fake and Stewart Butterfield, Mint’s parents, were informed of her disappearance on April 22.

In 2004, the couple founded Flickr, which was sold to Yahoo in 2005. Fake and Stewart separated in 2008. In 2022, Stewart founded Slack.

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The New York Post reported that the search for Mint Butterfield is ongoing, with both her family and authorities involved. The parents have urged anyone with any information to report it immediately.

The current circumstances and history surrounding Mint’s disappearance have escalated concerns about her well-being.

The community and law enforcement agencies are working together to find Mint and ensure her safe return home.

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Also Read: Fairfield Mall Shooting Update: Suspects Caught, Huge Vehicles Found in Beavercreek

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