After clear twelve days with no new coronavirus case recorded, New Zealand may remove social distancing restrictions from next week.
Unlike many other countries worldwide, New Zealand has so far escaped a high number of casualties. New Zealand with population more than 5 million, has recorded a total of 22 deaths and 1,154 cases since the pandemic began.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, “Our strategy of go hard, go early has paid off… and in some cases, beyond expectations.”
She added, “We will be one of the first countries in the world to return to this level of normality so quickly”
Early national lockdown efforts by New Zealand
The government’s effective response to the pandemic helped them to effectively deal with this pandemic. They enforced strict lockdown for nearly seven weeks…shutting most businesses and everyone except essential workers had to stay at home.
Government initiated ‘Alert level 2’ on May 13…allowing cafes, shops and restaurants to reopen under strict social distancing rules.
According to Ms Ardern nation could move to alert level 1 next week. Alert level 1, means lifting up of all restrictions on social distancing measures and mass gatherings. Except for tight controls at the borders, there will be almost no restrictions.
