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Almost all coronavirus restrictions have been lifted in New Zealand, a rare success story of a pandemic
New Zealand has gone 100 days without taking up a locally transferred Covid-19 case, a milestone that has been both welcomed and brought warnings against complaints.
The last case of community transfer was discovered on May 1, days after the country began reducing its lockdown.
Sunday was the fourth day in a row that no new cases of Covid-19 were reported.
The total number of active cases in the country remained at 23, all in managed isolation.
New Zealand has fared better than other countries, recording 1,219 confirmed cases and 22 deaths since the virus arrived in February.
Internationally praised for its handling of the pandemic, the country’s government lifted almost all of its lifting restrictions, first imposed in March.
An early lockdown, severe border restrictions, effective health messages and an aggressive test-and-trace program are all credited with effectively eliminating the virus in the country.
But officials have warned against competency, saying a second wave of cases was still possible.
“Reaching 100 days without community transmission is a major milestone. However, as we all know, we can not afford to be suicidal,” said Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield on Sunday.
“We have seen abroad how quickly the virus can reappear and spread in places where it was previously under control, and we must be ready to put out all future cases in New Zealand soon.”
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, struck a similar tone, and uttered pleasantly tempered with caution.
The landmark “does not reduce risk” of another peak in infections, Ms Ardern said.
“One hundred days is a milestone to mark, but, again, we still have to wait, despite it,” she added.
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Other countries have had early success in suppressing the virus, only to increase infections again after lifting lockdown restrictions that damaged the economy.
Vietnam went 99 days without communication transmission until July, when a 57-year-old man in Da Nang tested positive for the virus.
By the end of July, Da Nang was the epicenter of a new coronavirus outbreak, leading to the first coronavirus death since the pandemic began.
- The mysterious reunion of Covid-19 in Vietnam
Australia has also seen a revival of Covid-19 in some states, including New South Wales and Victoria, where a strict blockade has been imposed.
New Zealand is among a small group of countries to reach the 100-mile environment for community transmission.
Last month, Taiwan – also praised for its virus response – reached the landmark as well, according to local media.
