New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern says 'we beat the virus again'
05 October, 2020
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared on Monday New Zealand "beat the virus again" and announced restrictions in the country's major city would be eased, after another Covid-19 wave was contained.
The virus was thought to have already been eradicated in late May after a strict national lockdown resulted in New Zealanders enjoying 102 days without community transmission.
But a new cluster emerged in Auckland in August, forcing the town of 1 1.5 million into lockdown for nearly three weeks.
Without new confirmed cases in Auckland for 12 days, Ardern said Monday the virus was now in order and congratulated residents for enduring the second lockdown.
"It felt longer and dragged on in what was already starting to feel just like an extremely long year," she said.
"But despite this, Aucklanders and New Zealanders stuck to the program which has worked twice now, and beat the virus again."
Ardern said from late Wednesday Auckland would join the others of New Zealand on level one, the cheapest rating on the government's four-tier virus alert system.
Beneath the change, there are no restrictions on social gatherings, allowing the next Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland on October 18 to be played before a full stadium at Eden Park.
"This is positive news that (Auckland fans) can enjoy Test match rugby," New Zealand Rugby said in a statement.
New Zealand has recorded just 25 Covid-19 deaths in a population of five million, with 40 active cases in the country on Monday.
But Ardern, who faces a general election on October 17, warned success cannot be studied for granted.
She pointed to a decline in the application of the official Covid-19 tracing iphone app and falling virus test numbers.
"A resurgence of the virus is not our only worry, resurgence of complacency is right up there too," Ardern said.
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