New Zealand reports no new coronavirus cases for first-time since mid-March
04 May, 2020
New Zealand on Monday recorded no new cases of the coronavirus for the first time since March 16 and under a week following the Pacific nation ended a strict lockdown that appears to have contained the outbreak.
Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a news conference the effect was cause for celebration, noting the death toll remained at 20 without additional virus-related fatalities.
"It is symbolic of your time and effort everyone has devote," Bloomfield told reporters.
"This is the first day that we had no new cases and we want to keep it that way."
Last Tuesday New Zealand ended a strict lockdown which shut offices, schools, malls, restaurants, playgrounds and all other public areas for over a month.
However, several social restrictions stay in place with an incredible number of New Zealanders still working and studying from home, although some monetary activity was allowed to resume.
Bloomfield cautioned that people must continue social distancing measures to make sure COVID-19 will not return.
"Clearly they are encouraging figures today, nonetheless it is just one instant," Bloomfield said.
"The real test is later this week whenever we element in the incubation period for the virus and the time it takes for people to show symptoms which is normally five to six days after exposure."
The total number of confirmed cases in the united states is 1,137, he said.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Monday backed calls for a so called trans-Tasman bubble that could allow movement of people between New Zealand and Australia, saying this arrangement can work "seriously well".
Australia has up to now escaped the high numbers of casualties observed in other countries, with about 6,800 infections and 95 deaths.
The country had 26 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday, including a seven-year-old boy, across three states in the biggest daily jump in fourteen days.
A FRESH Zealand rugby team was presented with the green light to fly to Australia and begin training for a tournament while undergoing 2 weeks of quarantine.
"Officials in both countries are thinking about all areas of the trans-Tasman concept, and planning how this may happen more broadly," Peters said.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com
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