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This photograph of Edon O'Neill was taken on the evening New Zealand went into its first Covid-19 pandemic lockdown (11.59pm on 25 March to 11.59pm on 27 April 2020). During lockdown, anyone who was not an essential worker had to stay home in their 'bubble' to prevent community transmission of the virus.
Photographer Michael O'Neill captured his daughter holding up his mobile phone which had just received the nation-wide alert at 6.30pm:
National Emergency Management Agency Alert: From 11:59pm tonight, the whole of New Zealand moves to COVID-19 Alert Level 4. This message is for all of New Zealand. We are depending on you. Follow the rules and STAY HOME. Act as if you have COVID-19. This will save lives. Remember: Where you stay tonight is where YOU MUST stay from now on. You must only be in physical contact with those you are living with.
The signal was generated by the Civil Defence alert system normally reserved for tsunami warnings.