New Zealand health authorities have claimed that they have stopped the community transmission of coronavirus, effectively eliminating the virus. For the past few days, the new cases are in a single number, and the country reported one new case on Sunday.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern claimed on Sunday that the coronavirus had been eliminated. However, the health authorities have warned against complacency, saying that it does not mean the virus has completely been removed.
This comes hours before New Zealand is set to lift its toughest social distancing and lockdown restrictions. The government has allowed some non-essential businesses, education, and healthcare activity to resume from Tuesday.
While talking to her daily briefings, Prime Minster Ardern said that we are lifting restriction to open the economy, but not opening peoples’ social lives. Residents will be required to stay at home mostly and avoid all sorts of social interactions.
More:
- Coronavirus: New Zealand to ease restrictions after stopping the explosion
- New Zealand and Australia Close Borders to Foreigners Amid Coronavirus Crisis
As of Sunday, the country has reported more than 1,500 confirmed cases of coronavirus with 19 deaths. New Zealand’s director-general of health described few numbers of new cases as an encouraging sign. He said, “does give us confidence that we have achieved our goal of elimination”.
He also warned that this does not mean that there will be no new cases; however, the authorities now know where the cases are coming from. Ardern said on Sunday that there was no undetected community transmission in the country.
New Zealand lockdown eases
In the early stages of the outbreak, the country imposed very strict social distancing and lockdown restrictions, despite very few cases reported. It immediately closed its border, banned all foreign travel, and quarantined people coming from abroad.
The country also ramped up its testing capacities and extensive contact tracing. On March 26, the government closed all the public places, including schools, beaches, offices, and restaurants; only takeaways were allowed.
Ardern said that if the restrictions were not imposed, the country could have 1,000 new cases daily. She said that because of the nation’s cumulative efforts, they had avoided the worst.
Health experts say that because of its remote location and easily sealable borders have also helped a lot in the fight against the respiratory disease. However, Arden’s government has been praised for its clear messaging during the crisis.
On Tuesday, the country is expected to move from level four lockdown to level three. As New Zealand lockdown eases, the businesses will reopen. However, mass gatherings will remain banned, most children will stay away from schools, and shopping malls still closed. The borders are also expected to remain closed.
Meanwhile, In Australia, the number of infections is going down, with only 16 new cases reported on Sunday. Like New Zealand, the Australian government has also been praised for its quick and effective response to the outbreak. It is also preparing to ease strict social distancing restrictions.
