New Zealand eases COVID-19 restrictions, PM says '50-50 chance' of eliminating virus again

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Arden recently anunced that most of country will be moved to lowest virus alert setting as y are edging towards eliminating COVID-19. While dressing a news briefing, Arden said that New Zealand from September 21 will move down to virus level one in its four-tier alert system, except for Auckland, where country’s recent outbreak emerged. While she ackwledged that New Zealand has mand to get virus under control, she also ded that people still need to be cautious. 

Arden’s government was praised internationally for its coronavirus response as at one point country h ericated dely virus. However, in recent months, New Zealand again reported a cluster of infections in Auckland. While origin of new cluster still remains unkwn, health experts h said that it is t same strain of virus experienced earlier this year. 

NZ PM said, "Analysis completed for ministry of health suggests that by end of this month, re is still a 50-50 chance of having eliminated COVID once again”. 

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Auckland ‘needs more time’ 

However, she also ded that Auckland ‘needs more time’ to eliminate stubborn cluster of infection that was detected last month in city. Arden said that ‘caution is required’ in centre of outbreak as ‘elimination was still New Zealand’s target’. She ded that extensive testing and effective contract tracing were keeping infection contained. 

From late Monday, Auckland’s alert will move down slightly from 2.5 to two, meaning new rules will w increase maximum number at a social garing from 10 to 100. Furrmore, officials informed that city’s virus setting will be reviewed in next two weeks, with possibility it could join rest of country at level one on October 7. 

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Previously, Arden, who is currently campaigning for her reelection, h talked about easing social distancing measures on aeroplanes. She h explained that new rules would allow airlines to ease all physical distancing requirements in planes. This would particularly benefit Air New Zealand which h to limit its seating capacity due to measures. However, masks would still be mandatory on all public transport, land and air.

“I kw this change will make a real difference to Air New Zealand and those parts of country seeking increased numbers of visitors,” Ardern said in a news conference in South Island city of Dunedin. 

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