New Zealand Has 'Won Battle' Against COVID-19! PM Jacinda Ardern to Ease Lockdown Restrictions

Amid the coronavirus fear and rise in death toll, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern claimed that New Zealand has made a significant victory against the spread of the coronavirus. She also stated that the country has "eliminated" the deadly virus and easing of restrictions from "level four" to "level three" will be taken into consideration.

“There is no widespread, undetected community transmission in New Zealand. We have won that battle," Ardern declared. After five weeks at the maximum Level Four restrictions New Zealand will move to Level Three. With this ease on lockdown, few businesses, takeaway food outlets and schools to reopen in the coming days. 

Soon after the easing of restrictions, Ardern warned that there was no certainty about when all transmission can be eliminated. Further talking about normal life, she said, “but to do it confidently we need to move slowly and we need to move cautiously. I will not risk the gains we’ve made in the health of New Zealanders. So if we need to remain at Level Three, we will.”

This ease of restrictions came after New Zealand, reported only one new case of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. In total, New Zealand has reported 1,122 confirmed cases with 19 deaths so far as per Johns Hopkins University.