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New Zealand, which has successfully controlled the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 infection, will further facilitate quarantine measures in the next 10 days, but some restrictions will remain in place, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday.
According to the prime minister, supermarkets, restaurants, cinemas and playgrounds will open from Thursday as the country moves to the second of four levels of restrictions.
The 39-year-old head of government warned that “none of us can say that COVID is not among us,” but after seven weeks of quarantine, there are currently only 90 active cases of the infection in New Zealand.
Reuters / Scanpix photo / Jacinda Ardern
“Because of your efforts on behalf of New Zealand, we are ahead of most of the (countries) in the world and we have not seen the kind of devastation that COVID has caused in many other places,” he said on television.
“But the dangers persist, so please be vigilant,” he urged.
A total of 1,147 coronavirus cases and deaths in 21 patients were reported in New Zealand, with a population of five million.
In mid-April, the number of new cases of coronavirus recorded per day is less than ten. Three new cases of infection were recorded on Monday.
Second-level restrictions mean that state borders will remain closed, but domestic life will almost return to normal.
While the requirement to maintain social distance is maintained, the recommendations for residents to isolate themselves at home or “not get out of their bubble” will not apply.
“It’s a way to get out of our bubbles: you can see people you haven’t seen in a long time, you can’t do it all at once,” said Ardern.
“In the second level, we can go again; almost all areas of the economy are reopening, “he said.
The restrictions were first relaxed two weeks ago when the country went from level four (maximum) to level three. Open doors were allowed for some businesses, bringing food to restaurants serving customers, and some schools. Residents now have much more freedoms.
People over 70 will be able to leave again after more than seven weeks of mandatory quarantine.
Scanpix Photo / Wellington
Lifting the national travel ban should help the crippled tourism sector recover, with schools fully open starting next Monday.
However, cafes and bars will remain closed until May 21, to give them more time to prepare to ensure the safety of visitors.
Team sports will also recover. The Super Rugby Championship is now set to launch a national tournament on June 13 with five teams from New Zealand.
According to Ardern, it is planned to review the situation again in two weeks and possibly further ease the restrictions.
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