New Zealand will put an end to its strict coronavirus lockdown rules from midnight after Coronavirus has been eradicated as zero active cases is recorded in the country.
The last coronavirus patient who is a woman in her 50s has recorded no symptoms for 48 hours, as such, she has been classified as recovered at St Margaret’s Hospital and Rest Home in Auckland today.
Also, health authorities have not confirmed any new case for the past 17 days.
Whike making the announcement during a news conference today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: “We have eliminated transmission of the virus for now. While the job is not done. This is a milestone,” she said, adding that lifting of restrictions will be effective from midnight on Monday (12:00 GMT).
By implication, New Zealand will now move to level 1 alert. The move will permit funerals, weddings, hospitality, and public transport to reopen without any restrictions from midnight while New Zealand’s borders will remain shut.
New Zealand has a population of five million and the country has recorded 1,147 cases of COVID-19, including 21 deaths.
