New Zealand Announces Its Lockdown Is Over as Last Coronavirus Patient Recovers

People Enjoying a Market in Christchurch

Photo: Stock Photos from travellight/Shutterstock

New Zealand is seeing light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic. The last patient in the country suffering from COVID-19, a woman in her 50s, has officially recovered. This means that there are currently no active cases in New Zealand and, therefore, they can end their lockdown.

Not only are there no active patients in the country, but there have also been no new cases reported in the last 17 days. This is great news for New Zealand, which had a four-week lockdown in March. Since that time, the government has slowly been easing measures as part of a four stage alert system. As the number of cases continued to decrease, the country moved from stage four to stage one. Now, stage one is officially over and people can resume life as it was before.

In fact, the only restriction still in place is that the borders, which closed on March 19, will continue to be shut. Otherwise, people are free to move about and conduct their daily business. Not only does this mean that people can go back to the work, but that weddings and funerals can take place. Pubs and restaurants can open and public events can be held.

While this is certainly cause for celebration, officials warn that people need to remain vigilant in taking precautions as the virus still circulates the globe. “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,” says Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand's Director General of Health.

Officials also expect that there will be an increase in cases once international travelers are allowed back in the country and during the winter season, when viruses are more transmittable. But for now, Kiwis can rest easy knowing that their sacrifice in lockdown has paid off.

h/t: [LADbible]

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Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book 'Street Art Stories Roma' and most recently contributed to 'Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini'. You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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