12 January, 2026, 4:17 am Central - 22°C Rain

Woman in her 70's confirmed to be NZ's first COVID-19 fatality

Woman in her 70's confirmed to be NZ's first COVID-19 fatality

By Violet Matakibau
29/03/2020
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern. [image: NZ Herald]

New Zealand has just had its first death linked to coronavirus. a woman in her 70s in Greymouth Passed away in hospital early this morning.

She tested positive for the virus on Friday morning.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says this is a very sad day but it brings home why New Zealand moved to alert level four.

Ardern says more people would get sick and older New Zealanders are by far at the most risk.

She says today's death is a reminder of the fight we have on our hands.

Ardern again called on New Zealanders to stay at home, break the chain and save lives.

New Zealand’s Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told NZ Herald reporters the woman who died early this morning was initially thought to have influenza.

[Source:NZ Herald]

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