New Zealand won COVID-19 through social distancing – PM

NEW Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday claimed the country had scored a significant victory against the spread of the coronavirus as she began a phased exit from lockdown.

  “There is no widespread, undetected community transmission in New Zealand,” Ardern declared. “We have won that battle.” After nearly five weeks at the maximum Level Four restrictions — with only essential services operating — the country will move to Level Three late on Monday. That will allow some businesses, takeaway food outlets and schools to reopen.

  Ardern also insisted that there was no certainty about when all transmission can be eliminated, allowing a return to normal life. Everyone wants to “bring back the social contact that we all miss  but to do it confidently we need to move slowly and we need to move cautiously. I will not risk the gains we’ve made in the health of New Zealanders. So if we need to remain at Level Three, we will,” she said.