New Zealand said on Monday it had no active cases of COVID-19 for the first time since the novel coronavirus arrived in the country, setting it on course to eliminate the disease, lift social distancing restrictions and open up its economy.
FILE PHOTO: People take out products from their supermarket shopping cart and load them into their car outside Pak'nSave supermarket amid the spread of the coronavirus disease in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Martin Hunter
This was largely because of a strict lockdown enforced for nearly seven weeks, in which most businesses were shut and everyone except essential workers had to stay at home. “Having no active cases for the first time since February 28 is certainly a significant mark in our journey but as we’ve previously said, ongoing vigilance against COVID-19 will continue to be essential,” Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said in the statement.
A move to national Alert Level 1 from the current Level 2 would mean all social distancing measures and curbs on mass gatherings will be lifted, making New Zealand one of the first industrialised countries to do so.
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