New Zealand Has Won a Battle Against Virus Transmission

New Zealand Has Won a Battle Against Virus Transmission

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday claimed New Zealand had scored a big victory against the spread of the coronavirus, because the country began a phased exit from lockdown.

"There is not any widespread, undetected community transmission in New Zealand," Ardern declared. "We have won that battle."

After nearly five weeks at the utmost Level Four restrictions -- with only essential services operating -- the country will move to Level Three late on Monday.

 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

That will allow some businesses, takeaway food outlets and schools to reopen.

But Ardern warned there was no certainty about when all transmission are often eliminated, allowing a return to normal life.

Everyone wants to "bring back the social contact that we all miss", she said, "but to try to to it confidently we'd like to maneuver slowly and that we got to move cautiously."

"I won't risk the gains we've made within the health of latest Zealanders. So if we'd like to stay at Level Three, we will."

The easing of restrictions came as New Zealand, a nation of 5 million people, reported just one new case of COVID-19 within the past 24 hours, taking the entire to 1,122 with 19 deaths.