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WELLINGTON (BLOOMBERG, REUTERS) – New Zealand’s largest city emerged from lockdown after the government said a Covid-19 outbreak there was brought under control and remains on track to once again eliminate the virus from the community.
Auckland schools and customer-facing businesses reopened on Monday (August 31) and the ban on travel outside the city was lifted, almost three weeks after the outbreak prompted the reintroduction of restrictions.
Social distancing requirements remain in effect for the entire country under level 2 restrictions and now all people 12 and older are required to wear a mask on public transportation.
Ardern said Monday that he was confident the new move would be adopted across New Zealand, adding that “a bit of a smile with the eyes behind the mask” and kindness to Auckland residents in particular would help the country overcome the last outbreak. .
“We have a plan that we know will work. We just need everyone’s compliance and help. If everyone adheres to those guidelines and rules, along with all the public health measures that we have, we can make this work,” Ardern said. she was wearing a mask herself, she told reporters in Auckland.
The government expects to further review all alert settings before September 6.
Auckland students returned to school after many weeks of interruptions.
“For me it’s very good for them to go back to school. Online work, online school is fine, but still not good enough for them. So it’s good to get out of the house,” said one parent.
New Zealand became the envy of the world earlier this year when it succeeded in eliminating community transmission of the coronavirus by imposing a strict nationwide lockdown.
Ms Ardern said the government is continuing with an elimination strategy and is confident that it will be able to end the outbreak in Auckland, home to about a third of New Zealand’s five million people.
The Auckland group has grown to 135 cases in total, and the government expects new infections among close contacts to continue for some time.
The source of the outbreak is still being investigated.
New Zealand has 137 active cases, 20 of which are returnees from abroad who were quarantined upon arrival.
Restrictions in Auckland remain slightly tighter than in the rest of the country, with gatherings limited to 10 and people are encouraged to wear masks in public spaces.
Ms Ardern called the Auckland setting “level 2.5” and would not rule out imposing broader requirements for the use of masks if people do not comply with the current rules.
“Our system is good, it is designed to keep us on track with our elimination strategy at level 2, in the scenario we have now, but it will only work if people follow the guidance,” he said.
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