Lake Pukaki in New Zealand (Pixabay)
By Andrew Trunsky
Daily Caller News Foundation
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday that
the country no longer has any active cases of COVID-19, after
40,000 residents tested negative for the virus.
In response to New Zealand’s success, Arden stated in a press
conference that she would be lifting many of the restrictions that
have been in place throughout the country,
New Zealand new outlet Stuff reported.
“Today, I can announce that the Cabinet has agreed we will now
move to level 1 to get our economy fully open again,” Ardern
said. The move includes lifting restrictions on large gatherings
and non-essential businesses, and allows for sporting events and
concerts to occur without any limitations.
Ardern indicated that despite the country’s success in
eradicating the virus from within its borders, the fight was far
from over.
“We will almost certainly see cases here again,” Ardern
said. “This is not a sign that we have failed. That is a reality
of this virus.”
“While we’re in a safer, stronger position, there’s still
no easy path back to pre COVID life,” Ardern said, according to
the BBC.
While absence of the virus within New Zealand has led to the
removal of many restrictions within the country, its border still
remains closed to everybody except citizens and residents, and
people who enter will still be required to self-quarantine for two
weeks.
The country originally
closed its border on March 19. “I’m not willing to tolerate
risk at our border,” Ardern said that month. The move was
simultaneous to
other countries’ closing of their own borders as well.
New Zealand has been largely spared from the coronavirus,
reporting approximately 1,100 total cases and 22 deaths, according
to its
Ministry of Health.
New Zealand’s nationwide opening comes as much of the world
still grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, especially as
widespread protests have
raised concerns over a second wave. More than 7 million
reported cases have been confirmed internationally and over 400,000
deaths have been recorded, according to a Johns Hopkins University
database.
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News
Foundation.
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Zero cases: New Zealand has completely beaten coronavirus, says
prime minister appeared first on WND.
