With no current COVID-19 cases, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the country has officially eradicated the virus and may return to normal. The country has often been cited as a model for how other countries might handle the crisis.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during a news conference about COVID-19 at Parliament in Wellington on Monday.Marty Melville/AFP via Getty Images
The latest announcement, which brings the country of 5 million to its lowest alert level, means that large public gatherings, such as concerts and sports events, will be allowed for the first time since March 23, when Ardern announced a nationwide lockdown amid a rising number of daily cases. Restaurants and public transport will also be allowed to resume normal operations.
"[S]he was caught a little by surprise but she joined in, having absolutely no idea why I was dancing around the lounge but enjoying it nonetheless," the prime minister said. "At Level 1, we expect the continuation of recovery," she told reporters, but cautioned,"we will almost certainly see cases here again. That is not a sign we have failed."
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