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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has stated that New Zealand has “beaten the virus again” and announced that restrictions would be eased in the country’s largest city, after a second wave of Covid-19 was contained.
The virus was believed to have been eradicated in late May after a strict national lockdown led New Zealanders to enjoy 102 days without community transmission.
But a new group emerged in Auckland in August, forcing the city of 1.5 million to close for nearly three weeks.
With no new confirmed cases in Auckland for 12 days, Ms Ardern said the virus was now under control and congratulated residents for enduring the second lockdown.
“It felt longer and lasted into what was already beginning to feel like a very long year,” he said.
“But despite this, Auckland residents and New Zealanders stuck to the plan that has already worked twice and beat the virus again.”
He said that from Wednesday night, Auckland would join the rest of New Zealand at tier one, the lowest rating in the government’s four-tier virus alert system.
Under the change, there are no restrictions on social gatherings, allowing the second round of the Bledisloe Cup in Auckland on October 18 to be played in front of a packed stadium at Eden Park.
“This is positive news that (Auckland fans) will be able to enjoy Test Match rugby,” New Zealand Rugby said in a statement.
New Zealand has recorded just 25 deaths from Covid-19 in a population of five million, with 40 active cases in the country on Monday.
But Ardern, who faces a general election on October 17, cautioned that success could not be taken for granted.
He noted a decrease in the use of the official Covid-19 tracking app and a decrease in virus test numbers.
“The resurgence of the virus is not our only concern, the resurgence of complacency is there as well,” Ardern said.
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