New Zealand is preparing to ease strict lockdown rules put in place to limit the spread of coronavirus after successfully limiting its rate of community transmission.
The country reported five new Covid-19 cases on Monday, the latest in a string of several days during which reported cases hovered in single figures.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the country has so far managed to avoid the worst scenarios for an outbreak and would continue to hunt down the last few cases.
“There is no widespread undetected community transmission in New Zealand," she said at the Government's daily press briefing.
"We have won that battle. But we must remain vigilant if we are to keep it that way."
From midnight on Monday, some-non essential businesses, healthcare, and education activity will be able to resume as New Zealand lifts its level-4 lockdown, which has been in place for more than four weeks.
Strict social distancing rules will remain in force, however, and most people will still be required to remain in their homes.
New Zealanders are being told to keep to their "bubble" - meaning a small collection of relatives, or close friends - and to ensure they remain 2m apart from all people outside of those groups.
"We are opening up the economy, but we're not opening up people's social lives," Ms Ardern said.
The prime minister added that New Zealand would remain on a level-3 lockdown for a fortnight before officials decided on whether to transition to level 2.
“We can only do this if we continue to pull together," she said. "If we need to stay at level 3 [for longer] we will.”
“To succeed we must hunt down the last few cases of the virus,” Ms Ardern added. “This is like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
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