Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2021
Sequence of major events in a virus pandemic
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This article documents the chronology of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2021, which originated in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Some developments may become known or fully understood only in retrospect. Reporting on this pandemic began in December 2019.
Reactions and measures in the United Nations
1 September
- The World Health Organization is currently monitoring a new type of COVID-19 variant first identified in Colombia, known as the Mu variant.[1]
Reactions and measures in Africa
Reactions and measures in the Americas
10 September
- United States President Joe Biden has announced a COVID-19 action plan to boost vaccination rates in the United States. Key provisions include requiring all employers with 100+ employees to be vaccinated or tested weekly, requiring all federal employees and contractors to be vaccinated, and for healthcare workers at facilities receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to be vaccinated.[2][3]
Reactions and measures in the Eastern Mediterranean
Reactions and measures in Europe
Reactions and measures in South, East and Southeast Asia
7 September
- Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry Mohamed Azmin Ali announced that Malaysia would start treating the COVID-19 pandemic as an endemic disease from late October 2021 due to the country's high vaccination rate.[4]
22 September
- Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that interstate travel and tourist destinations would be allowed to resume once at least 90% of the Malaysian adult population had been vaccinated against COVID-19.[5]
24 September
- Malaysian National Recovery Council chairman Muhyiddin Yassin confirmed that Malaysia and Singapore would recognise each other's vaccination certificates in order to facilitate movement between the two countries.[6]
27 September
- New Zealand Zespri kiwifruits were pulled from Chinese supermarket selves after a batch of fruit being sold at a supermarket in China's Jiangsu province tested positive for COVID-19. In response, Zespri confirmed that it had launched emergency management plans and that the New Zealand Government was supporting its discussions with Chinese authorities.[7]
Reactions and measures in the Western Pacific
2 September
- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed that the Northland region, north of Auckland, would move to Alert Level 3 at 11:59 pm on 2 September since wastewater testing indicated no trace of COVID-19 in the region.[8]
4 September
- The Fijian Government has announced that only fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed to enter the country in November 2021 when borders are expected to reopen. The only exceptions will be emergencies.[9]
- The Congress of New Caledonia unanimously voted to make COVID-19 vaccines compulsory. The new law, which will come into effect when it is gazetted, allows French authorities (who control the territory's border) to order anyone entering New Caledonia to be fully vaccinated.[10]
6 September
- In response to the detection of three Delta variant community cases, New Caledonia has imposed a lockdown and closed schools throughout the territory.[11][12]
- New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern has confirmed that all of New Zealand except Auckland will move to Alert Level 2 at 11:59pm on 7 September. However, new Level 2 restrictions will be introduced including mandatory mask wearing at most public venues, recommended mask wearing for school students above the age of 12 years, a 50 person limit and two-metre space at indoor venues, and a 100 person limit at outdoor venues.[13]
9 September
- The New Caledonian government has appealed for all medical and paramedical personnel including veterinarians to assist in efforts to combat COVID-19.[14]
- New Zealand purchased 250,000 extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine from Spain. The first shipment is due to arrive on 10 September. In addition, Prime Minister Ardern confirmed that New Zealand would receive 1.8 million Pfizer doses throughout September.[15][16]
10 September
- New Caledonian members of the French Parliament have appealed for France to send more medical personnel to the territory due to a shortage of specialists at hospital intensive care units.[17][18]
12 September
- New Zealand purchased 500,000 Pfizer doses from Denmark. The first shipment is due to arrive in the middle of the following week.[19][20]
13 September
- New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern confirmed that the Auckland Region would remain on Alert Level 4 until 11:59 pm at 21 September. In addition, the rest of New Zealand would remain on Alert Level 2 until at least 21 September.[21][22]
14 September
- The French High Commissioner Patrice Faure has imposed a curfew on New Caledonia between 9pm and 5am in response to the territory's Delta outbreak. Local tabac presse (newsagency shops) were required to close but supermarkets were allowed to remain open.[23]
16 September
- The New Zealand Ministry of Health announced that all essential workers crossing the Auckland border from 17 September will have to show that they have had a COVID-19 test in the previous seven days.[24]
17 September
- New Zealand Education Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed that there would be no changes to the end of the year school holiday dates across the country.[25]
18 September
- New Caledonian authorities have extended the territory's lockdown and 9:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew until 4 October 2021.[26]
20 September
- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed that Auckland would move down to Alert Level 3 at 11:59 pm on 21 September while the rest of the country will remain on Alert Level 2. In addition, a "bespoke" lockdown requirement was established in Whakatīwai, Waikato due to recent community cases there.[27][28]
21 September
- The Republic of Fiji Military Forces has adopted a "no jab, no job" policy, with staff who refuse to receive a COVID-19 vaccine being issued with termination notices.[29]
22 September
- New Zealand Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield confirmed that Waikato's Whakatīwai region would be moving into Alert Level 3 due to the high level of testing and negative community cases in the region.[30][31]
27 September
- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that the Government will be trialing a home isolation programme for 150 selected travellers. In addition, Ardern confirmed that the quarantine-free travel for Pacific Recognised Seasonal Employer workers from Vanuatu, Samoa, and Tonga would resume in early October.[32]
- New Zealand Health minister Andrew Little has announced that the Government will inject NZ$400,000 in funding for youth mental health services, with priority being given to the Auckland and Northland regions due to the stress and anxiety among young people caused by the Delta community outbreak the previous month.[33]
See also
References
- ^ "Covid-19: WHO designates 'Mu' as virus variant of interest". Stuff. 2 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Path out of the Pandemic". White House. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ Liptak, Kevin; Collins, Kaitlan (10 September 2021). "Biden announces new vaccine mandates that could cover 100 million Americans". CNN. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ Lee, Yen Nee (7 September 2021). "Malaysia will start treating Covid as 'endemic' around end-October, trade minister says". CNBC. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ Anand, Ram (22 September 2021). "Malaysia to allow interstate travel, tourism when 90% of adults are vaccinated against Covid-19". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ Shah, Mohd Farhaan (24 September 2021). "Muhyiddin: Malaysia and Singapore to mutually recognise vaccination certs as part of move towards reopening border". The Star. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ Manch, Thomas; Yeoman, Scott; Daly, Michael (24 September 2021). "Zespri kiwifruit tests positive for Covid-19 in China". Stuff. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Northland to move to alert level 3 at midnight tonight". Radio New Zealand. 2 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Fiji entry only for fully vaccinated travellers say govt". Radio New Zealand. 4 September 2021. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ "New Caledonia imposes Covid-19 vaccination regime". Radio New Zealand. 4 September 2021. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "New Caledonia goes into lockdown after Covid-19 community outbreak". Radio New Zealand. 7 September 2021. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "Three delta cases of covid detected in New Caledonia – schools closed". Asia Pacific Report. Auckland University of Technology's Media Centre. 6 September 2021. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ Neilson, Michael (6 September 2021). "Covid-19 coronavirus Delta outbreak: PM Jacinda Ardern announces NZ outside of Auckland will shift to 'Delta level 2' at midnight tomorrow". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "All medical personnel in New Caledonia urged to help with Covid-19 outbreak". Radio New Zealand. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "More Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines to arrive Friday". 1 News. 9 September 2021. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Covid-19 briefing: Spain supplies NZ with 250,000 extra vaccine doses". Radio New Zealand. 9 September 2021. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "First Covid-19 death in New Caledonia". Radio New Zealand. 10 September 2021. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "New Caledonia reports first covid death – 117 cases in four days". Asia Pacific Report. 10 September 2021. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ Witton, Bridie (12 September 2021). "Covid-19: 500,000 Pfizer vaccine doses to come from Denmark". Stuff. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ Templeton, Sarah; Cook, Alexa (12 September 2021). "Jacinda Ardern announces second COVID-19 vaccine deal with Denmark, country set to receive extra 500,000 Pfizer vaccinations". Newshub. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ Cooke, Henry (14 September 2021). "Covid-19 NZ: Jacinda Ardern offers hope as level 4 extended, but expert says lockdown may be failing". Stuff. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "Ardern extends Auckland lockdown as New Zealand battles Delta variant". France 24. 13 September 2021. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "New Caledonia imposes curfew as delta outbreak new cases hit 256". Asia Pacific Report. Auckland University of Technology's Media Centre. 14 September 2021. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ Williams, Amy (16 September 2021). "Covid-19: Weekly tests for essential workers crossing Auckland border come in tomorrow". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ Witton, Bridie (17 September 2021). "Covid-19: Education Minister Chris Hipkins says school holidays won't be moved in Auckland". Stuff. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "New Caledonia extends lockdown". Radio New Zealand. 18 September 2021. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ Neilson, Michael (20 September 2021). "Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Auckland moves to level 3 for two weeks, rest of NZ in level 2 - with changes". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ Whyte, Anna (20 September 2021). "Auckland moves to Level 3 at 11.59pm on Tuesday". 1 News. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ Vacala, Kelly (21 September 2021). "RFMF implements no jab, no job policy". FBC News. Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ "Alert Level 3 confirmed for Waikato's upper Hauraki". 1 News. 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ "Covid 19 coronavirus Delta outbreak: Upper Hauraki moves to level 3 days earlier than planned". The New Zealand Herald. 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ "Covid 19 Delta outbreak: PM Jacinda Ardern fronts post-Cabinet update, outlines self-isolation travel trial; RSE bubble". The New Zealand Herald. 27 September 2021. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Mental health services for youth receive $400k funding boost". Radio New Zealand. 27 September 2021. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
