New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern urges people to stay careful as COVID-19 spikes in Australia

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has warned her people that country isn't “immune to coronavirus” and y will have to preserve "freedom y have got". Her remarks came as neighbouring Australia reported a surge in COVID-19 cases with state of Victoria being worst hit. 

On June 29, Australia reported a total of 81 new cases, less than three weeks after recording just two cases earlier this month. On July 1, country recorded 64 new cases in 24 hours and has moved to impose local lockdown and foreclosure of international borders  state of Victoria has w entered its second period of lockdown and closed border in response to surge.

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Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference, New Zealand PM asserted that it was a sombre reminder that island nation was also at risk. dressing Kiwis, Ardern said that what happened in Victoria was a warning for m t to get complacent. She ded that country’s goal is w to preserve all freedom that y were currently enjoying at alert Level 1 of lockdown. 

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"While we have low cases and days with zero, Victoria too was in a position of low cases and days with zero just three weeks ago. It is an example of how easily virus can take hold again and why vigilance is so important," said Jacinda Ardern. 

New Zealand on July 1 marked two consecutive days with positive cases. Calling New Zealand "a safe haven in a dangerous world", Ardern said that Australian surge was a reminder that New Zealand was t immune to what was happening in rest of world, and that y will be battling  global pandemic "for some time to come."

COVID-19 free?

On June 8, New Zealand h anunced that re were active COVID-19 cases in country, thus becoming first nation in world to claim to have ericated dely disease.

New Zealand's health ministry h said that  focus of government was to protect New Zealanders with robust border controls, continued surveillance and testing, contact tracing and rapid isolation of new cases, public support to prevent any furr spre, like good hygiene and keeping records of movements. 

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