Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday said New Zealand had scored a significant victory against the spread of COVID-19, as the country began a phased exit from lockdown.
“There is no widespread, undetected community transmission in New Zealand,” Ardern declared.
“We have won that battle.”
After nearly five weeks at the maximum Level Four restrictions – with only essential services operating – the country will move to Level Three late on Monday.
Around 400,000 people will return to work, and takeaway food outlets and schools will reopen, but shops and restaurants will remain closed as several social restrictions remain in place.
Ardern also warned there was no certainty about when all transmission can be eliminated, allowing a return to normal life.
Everyone wants to “bring back the social contact that we all miss”, she said, “but to do it confidently we need to move slowly and we need to move cautiously”.
“I will not risk the gains we’ve made in the health of New Zealanders. So if we need to remain at Level Three, we will.”
New Zealand’s 5 million residents were subjected to one of the strictest lockdowns in the world in response to the pandemic, with the closure of offices, schools, bars and restaurants, including takeaway and delivery services, on Mar 26.
Beaches, waterfronts and playgrounds were shut, effectively restricting people to their homes and short walks around their neighbourhood.
Many businesses began preparations over the weekend to restart operations this week while maintaining ongoing social distancing rules.
The parliament and courts across the country will also resume from Tuesday.
Still, Ardern stressed that public gatherings remain banned and asked people to remain in their “bubble”, or with their close relatives.
While Ardern has generally received public support, there has been growing criticism that similar results may have been achieved with less stringent lockdown measures, as in Australia.
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