New Zealand reports two new coronavirus cases, its first in 25 days
- New Zealand, which has recorded only 22 deaths, last week declared it had eliminated community transmission of the virus
- Domestic restrictions including social distancing requirements and limits on public gatherings were lifted, although strict border controls remain
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Both the new patients were recent arrivals from the United Kingdom, the health ministry said.
“The ministry can confirm today two new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand related to the border as a result of recent travel from the UK. Both cases are connected,” it said in a brief statement.
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New Zealand’s coronavirus-free streak ends with two new imported cases
New Zealand’s borders are open only to returning Kiwis and their families, besides some exceptions for business and compassionate grounds, with everyone undergoing two weeks mandatory quarantine.
As a result, domestic restrictions including social distancing requirements and limits on public gatherings were lifted, although strict border controls remain.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that she had not declared the country virus-free because “New Zealand will have cases again in the future”.
“Of course, our hope and expectation is that should be at the border … if they’ve quarantined, of course, that’s a very different story than in the community,” she told reporters, adding “it’s an ongoing campaign”.
The need for constant vigilance came into sharp focus as China, where Covid-19 first emerged in December, rushed to contain an outbreak in the capital of Beijing.
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The head of the World Health Organisation said more than 100,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported globally each day in the last two weeks, and countries that have curbed transmissions “must stay alert to the possibility of resurgence”.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that it took over two months to reach 100,000 reported cases, now a daily norm. Each day, nearly three-quarters of the new cases come from 10 countries – mostly in South Asia and the Americas, he said.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
