Hugs, rugby on agenda as New Zealand continues to ease lockdown
07 May, 2020
Super Rugby in New Zealand is poised to resume when the united states relaxes its COVID-19 lockdown, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Thursday, with bars, retailers and schools also set to open.
Ardern is due to announce next Monday whether New Zealand will proceed to Alert Level 2, which allows considerably more freedom than Kiwis have observed since lockdown began in late March.
While she stressed no decision had yet been made, Ardern acknowledged New Zealand's success in containing the virus had put it in an excellent position to cautiously relax the rules.
"Think about ourselves as halfway down Everest," she said. "It's clear that no-one really wants to hike back up that peak and the descent may be a lot more dangerous."
New Zealand, with a population of five million, has recorded 1,139 coronavirus cases and 21 deaths.
The quantity of new cases has been in single digits since April 14, with just one new infection recorded on Thursday.
Under New Zealand's four-tier alert system, social distancing protocols are enforced less stringently under level two, allowing contact sports like the national game of rugby union.
"Professional sport should be able to resume domestically under level two," Ardern said. "Super Rugby and the netball premiership have already confirmed their intention to resume a domestic competition, which I know will be cause for great excitement."
New Zealand's five Super Rugby teams have been out of action because the lockdown began and the game's governing body said once clearance was confirmed it would have a competition running within a month.
"We're delighted for our fans that in a best-case scenario we could have top-quality rugby back on our screens the following month," New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson said.
He said your competition would start to see the five teams play over 10 rounds in closed stadiums.
Ardern emphasised New Zealand's borders would remain closed and Kiwis would have to adjust to a "new normal" under level two.
"It's made to get as many persons back to are possible and get the economy running, but safely," she said.
Bars and restaurants can re-open, but with no more than 100 people, while hairdressers and beauticians should wear personal protective equipment.
Stores and other shops will be back business, while schools could have full classes after owning a skeleton procedure in recent weeks.
Domestic travel will also be allowed, providing a boost for the hard-hit tourism industry.
Health department director-general Ashley Bloomfield welcomed the chance of more relaxed rules.
"For my part, I'm looking forward to giving a few of my more extended family members and friends a careful hug," he said. "But also for work colleagues and persons I'm meeting for the very first time, I'll probably adhere to an elbow bump."
Source: japantoday.com
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