New Zealand, While the whole world remains strangled in the aftermath of the havoc wrecking novel corona virus as the tally crosses seven million mark and taking a toll of more than four lakh lives, New Zealand has emerged as the victor as it defeated the virus. The island nation had just 1500 cases of patients who contacted the virus and with only 22 deaths out of the total cases.
It was seventeen days ago when New Zealand reported a patient positive for coronavirus and notably, within this span an additional forty thousand citizens have been tested for the virus. On 8th May, it has been the first instance since the month of February when the island nation had an active case of the deadly virus.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the restrictions imposed on the borders of the nation won’t be uplifted. In a press conference, the Prime Minister stated, “We can hold public events without limitations. Private events such as weddings, functions, and funerals without limitations. Retail is back without limitations. Hospitality is back without limitations. Public transport and travel across the country is fully opened,”
Remarkably, the South Pacific nation had declared a stringent lockdown for a total of seventy-five days which expanded over seven weeks during its course most of the businesses were shut coercively and only essential workers were allowed to function while everyone else stayed at home.
Expounding on the future course of action, Jacinda observed, “While the job is not done, there is no denying this is a milestone. We are confident we have eliminated the transmission of the virus in New Zealand for now, but elimination is not a point in time, it is a sustained effort,”
Presently, the Southern Pacific nation has a population of about fifty million people as they surface from the hard-hitting pandemic but most of the major world economies are still engaged in the battle against the virus, namely, United States of America, Brazil, Russia, United Kingdom, and India as they are hitting a new record high with each passing day.
Along with New Zealand, eight other nations have defeated the deadly virus scilicet, Montenegro, Eritrea, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Holy See, Fiji, Saint Kitts and Nevis and lastly, East Timor.
