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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: New Zealand claims no community cases as lockdown eases | Coronavirus: New Zealand claims no community cases as lockdown eases |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| New Zealand says it has stopped community transmission of Covid-19, effectively eliminating the virus. | New Zealand says it has stopped community transmission of Covid-19, effectively eliminating the virus. |
| With new cases in single figures for several days - one on Sunday - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the virus was "currently" eliminated. | With new cases in single figures for several days - one on Sunday - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the virus was "currently" eliminated. |
| But officials have warned against complacency, saying it does not mean a total end to new coronavirus cases. | But officials have warned against complacency, saying it does not mean a total end to new coronavirus cases. |
| The news comes hours before New Zealand is set to move out of its toughest level of social restrictions. | |
| From Tuesday, some non-essential business, healthcare and education activity will be able to resume. | From Tuesday, some non-essential business, healthcare and education activity will be able to resume. |
| Most people will still be required to remain at home at all times and avoid all social interactions. | Most people will still be required to remain at home at all times and avoid all social interactions. |
| "We are opening up the economy, but we're not opening up people's social lives," Ms Ardern said at the daily government briefing. | "We are opening up the economy, but we're not opening up people's social lives," Ms Ardern said at the daily government briefing. |
| New Zealand has reported fewer than 1,500 confirmed or probable cases of coronavirus and 19 deaths. | New Zealand has reported fewer than 1,500 confirmed or probable cases of coronavirus and 19 deaths. |
| New Zealand's Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the low number of new cases in recent days "does give us confidence that we have achieved our goal of elimination". | New Zealand's Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the low number of new cases in recent days "does give us confidence that we have achieved our goal of elimination". |
| He warned that "elimination" did not mean there would be no new cases, "but it does mean we know where our cases are coming from". | He warned that "elimination" did not mean there would be no new cases, "but it does mean we know where our cases are coming from". |
| Ms Ardern said there was "no widespread undetected community transmission in New Zealand", adding: "We have won that battle." | Ms Ardern said there was "no widespread undetected community transmission in New Zealand", adding: "We have won that battle." |
| But she said the country "must remain vigilant if we are to keep it that way". | But she said the country "must remain vigilant if we are to keep it that way". |
| How did New Zealand respond to the virus? | |
| The country brought in some of the toughest restrictions in the world on travel and activity early on in the pandemic, when it only had a few dozen cases. | |
| It closed its borders, started enforcing quarantine of all arrivals in the country, brought in a stringent lockdown and mounted an extensive testing and contact tracing operation. | It closed its borders, started enforcing quarantine of all arrivals in the country, brought in a stringent lockdown and mounted an extensive testing and contact tracing operation. |
| Beaches, waterfronts and playgrounds were shut on 26 March, as were offices and schools. Bars and restaurants were also closed, including for takeaway and delivery. | |
| Ms Ardern said modelling indicated New Zealand could have had more than 1,000 cases a day if it had not brought in the lockdown so early. | Ms Ardern said modelling indicated New Zealand could have had more than 1,000 cases a day if it had not brought in the lockdown so early. |
| She said the country could never know how bad it would have been, but that "through our cumulative actions we have avoided the worst". | She said the country could never know how bad it would have been, but that "through our cumulative actions we have avoided the worst". |
| New Zealand's remote location and easily sealable borders played in its favour when the virus broke out, experts say. | |
| But the government has also been praised for the clarity of its messaging throughout the crisis. | |
| At midnight local time (12:00 GMT on Monday), New Zealand will move from Level Four lockdown to Level Three. That means most businesses will be able to reopen - including restaurants for takeaways - but not those involving face-to-face contact. | |
| New Zealanders are being told to stick to their "bubble" - a small group of close friends or family - and to stay 2m (6ft) away from people. | New Zealanders are being told to stick to their "bubble" - a small group of close friends or family - and to stay 2m (6ft) away from people. |
| Mass gatherings are still banned, shopping centres remain closed and most children will remain away from school. New Zealand's border will remain closed. | Mass gatherings are still banned, shopping centres remain closed and most children will remain away from school. New Zealand's border will remain closed. |
| What's happening in Australia? | |
| In Australia, the rise in infections has also slowed considerably in recent weeks. There were just 16 new cases recorded on Sunday. | |
| Much like in New Zealand, its government has been praised for its response to the crisis and opinion polls show that trust in the country's leadership has risen. | |
| Restrictions are easing in some areas, with some states planning to relax social distancing rules to permit larger outdoor gatherings this week. | |
| In Queensland from Saturday, people will be free to go shopping for fashion, have a picnic in the park or go for a swim at the beach as long as it is within a 40-minute drive from home. | |
| Western Australia is also joining South Australia in expanding the national two-person limit on gatherings to 10 people. | |
| However, most Australians are still required to stay at home unless they have essential work, shopping or exercise reasons to go out. | |
| More than a million Australians also downloaded a coronavirus contact tracing app within hours of it being released by the government. | |
| Users of the app will be notified if they have had more than 15 minutes of close contact with another user who tests positive for Covid-19. | |
| There are reports that Australia and New Zealand are considering opening up travel between them, but no decision has been made. |