WELLINGTON, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Gatherings of 500 or more people held outdoors or indoors "should be cancelled" out of coronavirus concerns, and the decision was made "in the best interest of New Zealanders," New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday.
There are approximately 107 events, with participants of more than 1,000 people, scheduled to take place nationwide next month, Ardern said at a press conference.
She said the cancellation aims to "slow the spread of COVID-19, reduce the number of people infected and to protect those who are more vulnerable to severe illness."
The Ministry of Education will be working with schools and universities to reduce gatherings as they are able to, the prime minister said.
Over the weekend, Auckland's Pasikifa Festival as well as the March 15 Christchurch terrorist attacks memorial service were cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.
The government will announce New Zealand's economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday.
